Index to Hikes,
Drives & Views

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June 13, 2001

We followed the trail up a slope blanketed with wild roses, their delicate aroma perfuming the air. The Butte, 881 feet above sea level... (read more)

June 8, 2001

See the plants and views along the trail to Thunderbird Falls.

June 4, 2001

The Shooting Star, Dodecatheon pulchellum, has been blooming for a couple days.

May 23, 2001

This Ranunculus Eschscholtzii or Mountain Buttercup had already been blooming for over a week when we received our last big snowfall on May 4th. This plant, in the Buttercup family, is a vibrant yellow, blooms early and can take freezing night temperatures. Temperatures dropped to the mid- to high 20's (Farenheit) every night from late April until May 18th without damaging this hardy plant -- which was blooming!

Pasque Flower (Pulsatilla) was the second to bloom after the Mountain Buttercup during this especially slow and cold Spring (2001). It is one of my favorites and if the seed heads are left on the plant they also have an attractive appearance.

May 19, 2001

What's Spring: Cranes, frogs, Red-Necked Grebes, Robins, Juncos, the frost going out of the ground, weeding, and the first flowers... The earliest flower in our garden is the Mountain Buttercup... followed by the Pasque Flower (Pulsatilla) and Arabis (also called Rock Cress).

April 21, 2001

Flock of Pintail Ducks near Fishhook Glenn Golf Course.

Hawk watching along the Glenn Highway a few miles north of Sheep Mountain Lodge. Settled in lawn chairs on a highway pull-out, over a period of several hours we saw Harlan's Hawk, Harrier (Marsh) Hawks, Sharp-Shinned Hawk, Rough-Legged Hawk, and a Golden Eagle. These dramatic birds soared generally northeast to southwest, very high, making binoculars and spotting scopes essential for good viewing.

April 19, 2001

A solitary Crane flying over the Post Office (in Palmer), two Mallards in the melt-water pond behind the house, and a Robin! Several flocks of geese circling at about dusk.

April 18, 2001

Two swans seen flying low over the intersection of the Parks and Glenn Highway at about 5:45 p.m.

April 17, 2001

Spotted two flocks of geese flying over the Post Office when I checked the mail about 6:00 p.m. Haven't seen any cranes yet. Geese Page.

April 16, 2001

Rumor has it the first butterfly has been spotted so it's not too early to watch for these lovely insects.

April 14, 2001

Cumulus Nimbus clouds over Talkeetna Mountains in late afternoon.

April 1, 2001

Northern Lights, Palmer, Alaska (3/31/01) & Hints on Photographing Aurora with a Digital Camera

March 27, 2001

It's time to start looking for the great flocks of migratory birds that take a stopover in the Matanuska Valley each Spring. Rumor has it some may have already been spotted in Anchorage.

March 19, 2001

This is the time of year that large flocks of Redpolls congregate around our bird feeder. Early in the morning they make it sound like Spring! Below is our March 20, 1997 archived material or visit our Winter Birds page!

  The Common Redpoll, also a seed eater, winters in the northern forests in large flocks. In late winter large, noisy flocks may pass through the forest near your house. Click on the button to hear a flock north of Palmer on March 20, 1997 at 8:30 a.m. The Redpoll's distinctive marking is a red patch on top of its head.