March brings full energy!

Without a doubt this surge in life is due to our friend, the sun, who is showing up earlier in the morning and setting later at night. And it is stronger during the daytime hours and its angle is getting higher and higher. This is why March is pure joy for many of us.

March will also bring some weather—Of course there will probably be some wicked winds. And deep cold temps. And drifts. And Ice. But the Sunlight cadence and march of March makes everything far more bearable.

Favorite Month—Some people claim March as their all time favorite Alaska month because it is bright, and there is still snow, and it is perfect for outside activities WITHOUT Mosquitoes.

Lots of cool sky things in March—We start out with the lunar eclipse and other nifty celestial events with planets and the full moon. We have the vernal equinox on March 20, when nearly everyone around the world has equal light and dark.

Of course there are also the March standard bearers—St Patricks Day, Friday the 13th, International Women’s Day and the Ides of March are all notable or substantial holidays. But in Alaska we have IDITAROD, which earns every bit of its fame.

Local March is full—There are ice breakers, book clubs, plant potting parties, local races, skiing, skating, basketball, winter discovery day, winter bike rides, archery contests, speaker series, seed swaps, and vendor markets.

Heliophysicist (Sun physicist) in Palmer—Last week Tom Mangelsdorf, an official Solar System Ambassador, gave a crazy good presentation about the Sun and weather. It was complete with video showing magnetic filaments, coronal holes, space weather, solar flares, plasma, and solar radiation storms. The crowd at the train depot was very quiet and impressed with all this welcome scientific knowledge. This well attended event of lovable weather and nature geeks was a part of the speaker series, offered from Revel Treks and Tours out of Palmer Alaska.

This is the official explanation which came with the presentation. “The sun’s influence on Earth goes far beyond providing light and warmth. Its constant activity—solar flares, winds, and magnetic storms—creates what scientists call space weather. In Alaska, we see one of its most beautiful effects: the aurora. But solar activity also affects satellites, power grids, and radio communication. As humans prepare for missions to Mars and beyond, understanding how space weather shapes our environment becomes essential for keeping explorers—and our technology—safe in space.”

Sun Spots—Have you started to see how your indoor animals are attracted to the delightful golden sun spots on the floor of your house? It is an invitation to rest in the sunlight and few animals will pass up this opportunity. Just like us, they have missed the sunlight coming at a higher angle through the windows. Of course you will also begin to see dust spots where all winter the dust bunnies hid, far from daylight and not obvious. You will also see the smudged and wind-beaten windows but that is the price we pay for living in the winter wind beaten valley.

You Earned It—This fabulous sunlight is your personal gift from Mother Nature. We have all sacrificed the light and it is our turn to dig deep into its warmth and value its vitality. Welcome back Palmer Sun!

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