Beautiful collision of seasons

It’s the time of year when all of our Palmer seasons collide. We still see the rich greens of summer fields. We treasure the colors of autumn filling up the trees and brush. We still see the slight vestiges of spring’s flowering shrubs—which haven’t died yet. We perceive clearly the beginnings of snowpack—starting to grow on the mountains. The beauty is overwhelming. As fortunate spectators we are allowed to view this special opportunity when all the divergent seasons crash together in exquisite harmony. This is the time when our Palmer photographs are the most beautiful. This is the time when our nature wins all the beauty contests. You must take the pic now.

Three New Plant Stores in Palmer—Palmer is growing and the three new plant stores downtown prove it. Wild Haven Company has moved into the old Picker building, next to the Bleeding Heart Brewery. The Plant Shoppe is located at 308 Dahlia Ave, kinda beside the Palmer Ale House. Viridian Plant Co. features plants and teas and is located next to the Big Dipper Homemade Ice Cream Store uptown and Fred Meyer’s former wonderful florist, Elise Rose, is working there.

Dial Down Denial—It’s legitimate. It’s here. Fair is over. Winter’s coming. The chores are many in the month of September. Procrastination at these final outdoor chores is no longer optional. You’re on deadline. Make your list. Get it done. Rest easy during the winter…which is not longer a fear or a threat…it’s a reality. Next week the Palmer Buzz will post the comprehensive “Winter’s Coming Chore-list.” So get started now so you can mark off a few at the get-go.

A Very Good Year for Palmer Museum—Over 25,000 guests were welcomed to the Palmer Museum and Visitor Center, so far, this year. The museum hosted “Artist of the Week” and Palmer Historic Walking Tours. There were Youth Art Classes an Cyanotype Print Workshops. Rental Trek bikes were available this year through a generous donation from Backcountry Bike and Ski. A partnership with the Bright Lights Book project allowed for hundreds of books to be freely given out to the community. The Museum is a host location for Kids Kupboard whose volunteers also gave out thousands of free lunch meals to children. The showcase garden attracted thousands of visitors and bountifully gave away beauty to all and vegetables to the elders. Seating opportunities tripled in size this year, assuring all of a restful and lovely sitting spot to ponder and enjoy Palmer. Thank you Museum and staff for being a wonderful and rich place in our Palmer Community.

Palmer Leafers: It’s leafing season and here is a nice leafing trail to collect leaves: it starts at Gulkana. It goes past the arboretum, past the end of the airport, through the “runway” protection area, through a nice field, into the woods between the middle school and the fire training center—which connects with the pedestrian trail along Cope Industrial Way. The trail is paved fortunately so you won’t have to slog through the mud. In this time of leafing, there is a good selection of leaves available.

Palmer Leaf Collection—It’s a good year for leaves. They may not be as dramatic as some years, but they are plentiful and there is a good variety. The big old gold cottonwood leaves are beautiful. The small skinny firewood reds are slivers of fire. Birch are singularly lovely. The giant pushki plant leaves are major splashes but they have stickers and thorns on the stem and on their backs. Low growing bush plants have clusters and stems of leaves— rusty and reddish in color and look a bit like corduroy. If you’re a seasonal leaf collector, check this out. And let the aroma of autumn and the colorful leaves stimulate your senses.

This Week in Palmer: This Saturday is the Senior Walk at the Palmer Senior Center. It is the last week for most farm markets. Live music is still rolling in Palmer on the weekend. Football is live and at all the schools. And don’t forget Equinox is early next week.

Barbara Hunt is both Palmer writer and artist. She works hard to keep the robust pulse of Palmer, Alaska. (She is working hard on the 2023 Palmer Community Calendar, which may be available in October.) Barbara shares the good stuff in the weekly Palmer Alaska Buzz Column in the Mat Su Valley Frontiersman and daily on the Palmer Alaska Buzz Facebook Group.. Contact at bhunt@mtaonline.net or text 907.315.3222