Palmer-Spring Sprung in One Week

On Sunday, May 7, we had both the first robins and snowflakes. On Monday we had mosquitoes appear and swallows. On Tuesday the buds popped on the trees. On Wednesday grass started to show. On Thursday most all snow piles were gone and early flowers were poking up. On Friday both the greening of the grass and the leafing of the trees happened quickly. On Saturday we were all sunburnt, muscle achy and mosquito bitten. Spring has sprung.

Palmer’s One-Hundred Days Starts Now—It is mid May and we are now starting our annual 100 days. For the next 100 days we get to live our Palmer life outside. Because we are only guaranteed 100 days, we appreciate it and celebrate it more than most.

Growing Things—Although Spring was late this year, we know that growth will happen quickly. Seeds should be in the ground. Starts are hardening off or still in garages or greenhouses. Rhubarb, daffodils, tulips and primroses are up and smiling.

Washing Things—Power washers and hoses are our friends. A year’s worth of glacial dust and moose spit are on everything.

Sorting Things—Outbuildings, sheds, closets, extra rooms, garages, are all up for the big sort. Recycle time, up-cycle time, and garage sale season is upon us for the retrieval and advancement of stuff. Bishops Attic and Alaska Family Services is always a great alternative.

Flying Things—Paragliders, small planes, drones and kites are in the air now. And there’s big activity over at the airport. Firefighters are arriving. We’ve seen two balloons in the sky.

Driving Things—Bicycles, skateboards, motorcycles and roller-skaters are out on the paths and sometimes sharing the roads with all those big vehicles. Plus we have our seasonal construction traffic, RVs, campers, and ATV’s. Always be careful of the smaller ones.

Seeing Things—Marvels, scenery, wildlife, rainbows, panoramas, reindeer, musk ox, moose, eagles, seagulls, ravens, cranes, glaciers, waterfalls, baby animals— and this is just the short list.

Floating Things—Canoes, kayaks, river rafts, fishing boats, paddle boats, and sailboats are in the water. Don’t forget that PFD’s are our water friends.

Building Things—It’s construction time from huge projects to a new dog house or tree fort. This is our joyous season of the hammer.

Cooking Things—The smell of a single salmon on the grill is only improved by two salmon on the grill. It will happen soon. Plus cooking ANYTHING outside is yummy. Or an outside picnic is just perfect.

Throwing Things—It’s time for throwing baseballs, frisbee golf, horseshoes, and wild flower seeds.

Hiking Things—Hatcher Pass, Castle Mountain, Lazy Mountain, Reflection Lake, Knik Glacier, Thunderbird Falls, Crevasse Moraine, the old Palmer railroad bed, Jim Creek, the “blow hole,” Morgan Horse Trail, the Butte, or any of the other 2000 miles of hiking trails near the Palmer area.

Fishing/Hunting/Foraging Things—Salmon, rainbow trout, grayling, pike are ready for you and we also gather blueberries, raspberries, and rose-hips.

Music Things—Every weekend is outside music at the Palmer Ale House. Music is always at Klondike Mike’s. Summer festivals, including Palmer’s Friday Flings, are all on the calendar, and live music is a part of the market.

Drinking Things—Bleeding Heart Brewery, Palmer Bar, Klondikes, Matanuska Brewing Company, Arkose, and finally 203 Kombuchery.

It’s our time. For the next 100 days, Palmer rejoices our life—outside.

This Week in Palmer—Garage sales, farm sales, Stallion show at Fair Grounds, plant sales, markets, tours, live music, Friday Flings, graduations, clean-ups, hikes, runs, walks, bikes…it’s a big world out there with the happy doors of the Alaska spring season flung open.

Barbara Hunt is both Palmer writer and artist. She works hard to keep the robust pulse of Palmer, Alaska. She shares the good stuff on the weekly Palmer Alaska Buzz 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