Palmer pussy willow time

Pussy Willows are bloomed out on the flatlands and have yet to bud on the mountainside. This is part of the dichotomy of Pussy Willows. They sort of symbolize the duplicity of the seasons. Hard and soft; Cold and Warm; Dark and light. The long slender stems of the woody willow are covered with furry little bundles of swaddled catkins just to keep the seeds warm. It’s a beautiful analogy and so obvious in our weather where it might rain, might snow, might sunshine, or might blow. The classic story of the pussy willow is too sweet to not repeat once more. “According to an old Polish legend, a mother cat was crying at the bank of the river in which her kittens were drowning. The willows, at the river’s edge, longed to help the Mama Cat, so they swept their long, graceful branches into the waters to rescue the tiny kittens. The kittens gripped on tightly to their branches and were brought safely to shore. Each springtime since, goes the legend, the willow branches sprout tiny fur-like buds, where the tiny kittens once clung.” :)

Palmer Invitational Track Meet—There will be an abundance of runners, jumpers, throwers and leapers this weekend at the Palmer Invitational Track Meet. The Palmer Invitational Relays has been one of the most popular track meets in history and it all happens this weekend.

Great Alaska Aviation Gathering—The 2023 Great Alaska Aviation Gathering happens this weekend at the Alaska State Fairgrounds and the Palmer Municipal Airport. This is great for pilots and a cool event even if you are not a flyer. There’s a show and shine from 10-2 on May 6. There’s exhibitors, swap meets, activities, food, drinks, raffles and tons of information shared freely. The airport will be a happening place with all sorts of visitor planes and people flying in and camping. There are loads of seminar classes; technical, preventative, safety, drones, medical, enforcement, search and rescue, survival, maintenance, recovery, geography, navigation, wildfires, remote issues, and insurance. There is Drone Yoga, Selfie Station with aviation costumes and props, Aviation Game Show, vendors and food trucks, STEM activities, Styrofoam Gliders, Obstacle Course, Super Cub Simulator and Spark-plug Gliders.

Great Alaska Valley Chrome and Wheel Car Show Gathering—This happens indoor at the MTA Event Center and Ice Rink, across from Palmer Middle School on Friday-Sunday. It’s a great car show which is free and fun. Food truck will be present along with many gorgeous automobiles. This is put on by the AK 49th Sate Street Rodders, which is a non profit car club.

This Week In Palmer—This is the monthly First Friday at Poppy Lane; Alaska Chicks is having their One Year Birthday Bash on Saturday from 11-7. Supernova Live is at Klondike Mike’s on Friday night and the next day is their weekly Bar Exam Pub Trivia on Sunday at 6pm. The 1rst Saturday Vendor Market is at the Borough Community Gym on Saturday. “Into The Woods” auditions are this Saturday at the Glenn Massay Theater. Square Dancing at Sophia’s Cafe on Friday night. Saturday is the Cowboy Action Shooting public event at the Matanuska Valley Sportsmen Range on Saturday from 10-2. Alaska Skydiving will be jumping at the Alaska Skydive Center this weekend over at the Palmer airport on Saturday.

May is Upon Us—And with May comes the festivals, picnics, music nights, markets and the celebrations. There are memorial services, family reunions and graduations. It’s difficult to list all the various events but check your newspaper and social media for reminders.

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