Flowers in the frost

Palmer had its’ first hard frost on Saturday night. Frost was on the pumpkin and everywhere else. Yet still there are active flowers remaining as of October 20. Some are in their second odd bloom of the season (although some of them are in microclimates, which assures their survival in the cold shoulder season.) Nonetheless Brave Survival Awards go out to the bold Pansies, Cosmos, Johnny Jump ups, Citronella, Daisies, Nasturtiums, Wild Rose, Geranium, Alyssum, Bellflower, Dahlia, Sweet Peas, Poppies, Clematis, Strawberries, Cranesbill, Trollius, Calendulas, Bachelor Buttons, and even a few Delphinium.

Arc of the Southern Sun—That strong golden light of Autumn is more precious than ever. It is doubtful that we will see any more 50+ degree weather and along with it comes shorter daylight. This is it folks…..the deep transition. It is imperative to locate one’s cozy now. This means the warm clothes, the puffy jackets, sweaters, the mittens, the flashlights, the heavier blankets, the strong fibers which bind us together during the cold and weave warmth in the dark times. Fairy lights, and SAD lights help in an immediate way.

The Time for Little Lights is Now—Don’t wait for the traditional holiday season. Palmer needs the little lights now. Pushing Christmas forward is not the goal, but offering light and hope is essential in the dark season. Like other northern climates and in the Scandinavian and Canadian countries, we recognize the value of little lights during the dark time. It is a physical and emotional support to everyone. Winter cities and towns have long valued the lantern, street light and fairy lights because it is part of our welcoming safety of the season.

Thin Time of the Year—Palmer’s October is the thinnest and weakest time of the year. This is the time when weakened twigs can no longer hold on to the leaf. Branches release their heavy fruit. Tall grasses and shrubs of summer bend to their knees and then fall to ground in weariness. Bedding plants struggle to maintain a presence but soon succumb to the cooling earth in a heap. Boisterous flower blooms droop and crackle into a million pieces. Seed pods pop open and release their contents. Palmer’s sunflowers bend over at weird angles and surrender to the ground, like broken sculptures.

The strong and glorious colors of our Palmer autumn dull and fade, and we sense the thinness of the season. It’s still full of wonder but we’re now in a state of cautious anticipation for the full turning of the year into winter. It’s interesting that we celebrate the thinnest time with the fattest turkey, thickest blanket, and bulkiest bags of cheap halloween candy, as if the huge caloric intake will fill up the empty spaces.

Also still as we treasure our summer memories, we often feel the bittersweet melancholy that marches with us in October. It’s no accident that many religions and cultures celebrate holy days of remembrance at this time of year. It is said that this is the easiest and most significant time of year to reach out to our ancestors and loved ones for guidance and connection.

In the march of life, death is always a player. Palmer loses beautiful people regularly. Palmer also works hard to keep memories and honor alive of those we loved. Big love goes out to all those dealing with death and loss at this—brilliant yet melancholy—time of year. As a part of the season, Dia De Los Muertos is celebrated honoring the dead along with All Saints Days.

And Halloween—Halloween, although unrelated, is a strange combo of culture and comedy, dressed up in costumes and candy. This week offers many costume parties, trick or treats, events and festivals. The costuming is often beyond creative and fun to see. Plus the plethora of blow up animal costumes is equally entertaining. Watching dinosaurs, a capybara, a frog and a unicorn dancing is a joyous thing because of the cartoonish and innocent nature of hopping animals. Beautiful witches, cowboys, swaggering pirates, and friendly ghosts are all welcome. Not so welcome is the underbelly’s presentation of the season—the walking bloody corpses, sexy glam girls, or violent gang fighters. One’s choice of costume is both a signature and a statement; it’s an individual theater of creativity and personal projection. Choose carefully.

Barbara Hunt is both Palmer writer and artist. She works hard to keep the robust pulse of Palmer, Alaska. She 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.