Goodbye to green and gold

These colors might be sport teams’ or flag colors but in my book they are our seasonal colors, to whom we must say goodbye. Until this past windy weekend we had big greens and lustre golds left, along with the spots of floral color, the blue skies and the earthy tones of autumn. Now, the golds are gone…blown away mostly, except for the remaining gold of the Tamarack needles. And the grass greens are losing their fresh pigment. Soon our colors will be replaced by indigos, whites, grays, blacks, browns, along with the winter sky and sun colors. Our night sky will offer up 50 shades of deep dark along with the theater of stars, Draconid meteor shower, constellations, satellites and the full “Kindly” moon. Losing bright colors is hard for some people and we compensate by filling our inside nests with bright afghans, little twinkly lights, plants, candles, and cozy colors.

Plant Shops Grow in Palmer—Three plant shops opened in Palmer in the last few months. All are interesting and all are different. The common denominator is of course plants. The question was posed why all three plant shops converged and debuted in Palmer. Answers from all shops were worthy and will be included here, along with the descriptions of the shops:

The Plant Shoppe is in a cute little building next to the Palmer Ale House, located at 308 E. Dahlia Ave, Suite B. You walk in and it is deliciously warm with growing things and lovely aromas. Melissa Wollman opened in June because she said she loves and needs plants. In addition to plants there is hand woven macramé, local candles, earrings and most beautiful terrariums. This is a shop which welcomes you and ensures your return. Melissa says that Palmer plant shops are the manifestation of our needs and desires. This seems especially true as we enter the deep and dark season.

Viridian Plant Store and Tea Room is located next to the Big Dipper Ice Cream Shop and Alpenglow Hair Salon in the building where Pizzaria Delphi is located. It is a cool shop with a good feel along with books, journals, and many plants and succulents. The plant tribe has discovered this location and customers offer advice in the aisles. Megan Graham opened this shop because of her love for plants. She said thoughtfully that Covid Days drove up the need for organic life giving things like plants. Tea is also served at the shop along with coolers. Plus the talented Alise, formally Fred Myers florist, works there.

Wild Haven Co is the former Alaska Picker location, sharing the building with the fun and tasty Bleeding Heart Brewery. This new shop is full of boutique furniture and lovely plants which reside within its large greenhouse/plant-house in the middle. In addition there are pillows, doggie things, worm brew, paints, books, sages, and rocks. It is really a curiosity shop. The goal is to offer “thoughtfully sourced goods for the home and heart.” Plants help to purify the air and caring for plants is therapeutic.

Palmer is a perfect place for plant shops and we wish all three of the above new shops the best. There isn’t competition here because plants have a way of creating harmony in both nature and conversations. The community appreciates home grown efforts and our community values “nesting” in a big way. Our home environments are our warm and safe refuge in the Alaska winters and plants are a welcome and healthy resident to keep our senses alive.

First Snowflakes, Snow Creep, and Lake Ice Skim—These have all happened in the last several days. Some delight in the advances of winter and some despair. Regardless, winter is coming and preparation is important. Ravens, chickadees and spruce grouse have established their majority in our area. Moose are traveling around in clumps now due to mating season and the ceasefire of hunting season. Bears are getting so close to hibernation. It’s time for fall festivals and there are plenty in the Palmer area along with pumpkin art, and live music on the weekends.

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