Flowers, produce reaching potential in the Valley

It takes time for the world famous giant vegetables to reach their full potential, but now is a great time to see the fabulous vegetables in all their glory.

"Some visitors are disappointed who arrive in May or June and want to see the large vegetables," explained Jaime Rodriguez, the master gardener who tends the acclaimed Mat Valley Agricultural Showcase Garden next to the Palmer Visitor Center.

But if you happen to take a stroll through the garden now you will be rewarded with over 700 perennials and vegetables in picture-peak appearance. You may be lucky like I was and visit when Jaime is tending his duties and get a free fresh taste sample of an herb, vegetable or fruit growing in the garden.

Don't get caught picking the crops there, though. Go to Pyrah's Pioneer Peak U-Pick Farm to put vine-fresh vegetables on your table. Located near Palmer at Mile 2.6 Bodenburg Butte Loop, you can pick more than a dozen varieties of vegetables and fruit. Pickers are asked to obey a few rules and are provided with buckets and wheelbarrows. (Bring your own knives. Pyrah's will provide, but they can run out.) The farm is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and closed on Sunday. If you want to purchase fresh Valley produce, visit the Farmers Market at the Historic Wasilla Townsite on Wednesdays, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Local vendors vary each week, but expect to find produce, jams, fresh bread and flowers.

The University of Alaska operates an Experimental Farm on Trunk Road, behind the Mat-Su Visitor Center. Scientists conduct crop research on grasses, small grains, potatoes, lettuce, cabbage, alfalfa and hay. Visitors can view a well-labeled container garden across from the research center. It is also a good lunch spot with a picnic table overlooking the gardens, crop fields and Pioneer Peak.

The Alaska State Fairgrounds boasts more than 25,000 different species of plants, flowers and fruit. This year's theme, "It's Bloomin' Fun" encourages visitors to tour the expanded flower and vegetable beds throughout the fairgrounds. More than a dozen employees of the fair work throughout the summer to prepare the grounds to peak during the event.

The fair is open to the public Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except during fair dates. Garden tours are available during the fair, which runs from Aug. 22 through Sept. 2. Landscape Supervisor Becky Walters leads the tour beginning at 1:30 p.m. daily at the Wineck Barn, just inside the red gate.

Don't miss this opportunity for a personal guided tour of this celebrated garden.

The Mat-Su Visitor Center located at Mile 35.5 Parks Hwy. features a beautiful perennial garden at the entrance and like the Palmer Visitor Center is nurturing a giant cabbage to share with visitors.

Work has started on an additional raised island bed in the parking area to welcome visitors to the Center. If you have questions on directions to these properties or want more information, contact the Mat-Su Convention & Visitors Bureau at 746-5000.