Summer Solstice week

Exception—I dislike weeding. Actually, I hate weeding. Except at midnight. So this is the week that my deserving garden will receive the most deliberate attention and care of the entire growing season. It’s because it is Summer Solstice week; tuning in to the gift of midnight light is necessary, in Palmer’s high latitude location.

Weeding at Midnight—Have you tried this? It’s truly a bestowal of unique energy, where normally there is none. At midnight or 1am the world is very quiet. There are no tractor noises or traffic noises; there are no chainsaws or gunshot noises. Only the very resilient birds are still awake and they chirp and sing on the down-low. The light is soft and muted but still light. It seems as if the aromas are stronger along with the blue and purple blooms. The mosquitoes seem excited to have me in the garden at this time of night. The rocks have less shadows and stronger faces at midnight. The air is heavier and pungent. Weeding at midnight is a seasonal ritual which I have done for decades. I try to not make any additional noise so I can just suck in the silence and solstice light. I highly recommend this to my Palmer peeps this week.

Lilac Lag and Peony Pop—This is surely the most floral time of year in Palmer. If you walk in any neighborhood then you will probably find an old, heavy lilac shrub which is tree size and burdened with lilac blooms. Many lilacs have many scents. But the old, old shrubs seem to bask in the special fragrance of pure lilac. Go ahead and stick your nose in these blooms. Close your eyes. It is the redolent perfume of remembrance. It is like instant time-travel back to the front porch of your childhood home. Or the strong whiff and memory of the forest glenn flagstone steps, which had wildish lilac bushes growing in the cracks of the wall.

Peonies are also here, kinda. They seem about two weeks late this year, but they are plumped up and on the edge of blooming. Again, different peonies have different aromas. Again, turn on your nose. Check for ants first and then plunge your nose right into a bloom. We don’t get this joy often so make the most of it.

Other Rituals of High Summer—Fishing and more fishing are definitely at the top of the list. sidewalk chalking, trail walking, rock gathering, and outside-anything is the name of the game in Solstice week in Palmer.

Palmer Weekend Festivities—This weekend is the 40th Annual Scottish Highland Games at the Alaska State Fair grounds. This event is well organized and has athletes, music, performances, food, vendors, harpists, swords, Scotch tastings, gatherings of the clans, bagpipes, and some crazy competitions including a stone throw, kilted mile, farmer’s walk, hay-bale toss, and heavy pole carry. There will be costumes and regalia and men in skirts. It is both Saturday and Sunday.

There are quite a few other regional events this weekend in surrounding areas—however I stay in my lane, focusing on Palmerish events in the Palmer Alaska Buzz. Palmer Ale House has live music both nights and Country Cuts has a car show on Sunday. Stay safe and enjoy the light.

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. Email bhunt@mtaonline.net or text at 907.315.3222