Sunflower time in Palmer

The best part of summer is when bunches of golden yellow sunflowers face you and smile wide. Their big heads track the sun as the hours progress during the day. According to research in the "New Phytologist," our eastern facing sunflowers are the happiest, strongest, and healthiest. The document says that there is greater warmth, more light, more pollination and therefore far more productive seeds from eastern facing sunflowers. This concept holds true in Palmer sunflowers. After inspecting a number of gardens, the eastern facing sunflowers do indeed seem happier and bigger. There are at least 70 varieties of sunflowers including midgets to monsters and they come in all colors, including purple and pink and orange and red. The little dwarf sunflowers can be 15 inches high while the tall sunflowers can easily surpass 15 feet. You will see some marvelous sunflowers at the state fair. The Championship Sunflower is a Teddybear Variety grown by a talented Palmer gardener up on Buffalo Mine Road.

This is the last great week of the Alaska State Fair. This column is both suggesting and advocating that you find the very BEST at the fair this week. Remember our fair comes only once a year and it is such a production. It is interesting to watch the crowds at the fair. Seeing a family laughing isn’t rare but it usually involves a destination. Here are the destinations which 100% procure joy and outright laughter: animal barn; circus; bubble rides; Fair cut-outs; The Big Chair; The FA_R photo; watching the various shows all around the fair. In this last week of fair, concentrate on identifying those personal fair moments which feel undeniably positive. Let those uplifting moments sink in so the strong memory of those happy moments will stay with you all year.

Best Aroma Corner at the State Fair—There is no question. The very best smelling location at the Alaska State Fair is in the big barn at the Lilly Corner. This is where all the varieties and exhibits of lilies converge and their tangled scents create the most beautiful aroma on earth.

Most Popular Happy Foods At the Fair—Judging from the happy faces and long lines, the following foods create the most joy. Corn Dogs; Cotton Candy; Popcorn and Kettle Corn; and Corn on the Cob. There is something magical about both the history and tradition of these iconic fair foods.

Foods On a Stick—If there ever was a place for pedestrian food, the Alaska State Fair is the location. Food on a stick is so simple and easy and usually delicious. You don’t need utensils and you can walk and eat without difficulty. Candy apples, ice cream bars, corn dogs are the norm but now you can add pork chops, halibut chunks, and fruit kebabs. Other variations of fork-less fair foods are ice cream cones, tacos, snack bags, corn fritters, funnel cakes,

Many formations of fried dough—State Fair offers so many versions of fried dough. Elephant Ears, Churros, Native fry bread, and Fritters, are standard examples. It’s a delicious combo, warm fried dough doused with butter sweet and savory. It’s the ultimate “stand up and walk finger food” where you will end up licking your fingers.

Top Fair Foodie Favorites—The Husky Burger, Peanut Potatoes, Homemade Cookies, Pork Chops, Stuffed Potato, Bread Bowls and Tacos seem to be universally loved and happily digested.

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. She is also the creator of the annual Palmer Community Calendar. Contact at bhunt@mtaonline.net or text 907.315.3222.