Seasons by Lynn Lovegreen

 Most people notice the seasons where they live. Even warm equatorial regions might have a wet season and dry season. But where I live in Southcentral Alaska, seasons are a big deal. It’s temperate here, not like the Arctic north, but we still have a big difference between our warm and cold seasons.

 

Right now, we’re at the end of winter, almost at break up (so-called because the ice breaks up and melts). Break up is when mud puddles and muck cover the ground, and meltwater fills the streets. But it’s also an exciting time of year, as we all anticipate warmer times when we don’t have to scrape off the frost before we drive our vehicles, bundle up to go outside, or the other things we get tired of doing in the winter.

 

Spring is short here, just a few weeks long, but it is one of my favorite times of year. As the leaves grow on the birch trees, delicate spring green infuses the forests. Grass and shrubs grow again. Many of our migratory birds come back in spring. Energy seems to flow around us.

Summer is glorious in my part of Alaska. Everything greens up, it’s warm enough to go around in shirt sleeves or light jackets, and wildflowers and birds are everywhere. Of course, that means the mosquitoes are back, too, but it’s worth dealing with them to get outside to hike, camp, or whatever you enjoy outdoors. From late May to mid-October, the long daylight reigns and we try to get out in it as much as possible. We hit the peak on Summer Solstice at 22 hours!

Fall is also short here, barely a month some years. But the red blueberry bushes, yellow birch, and golden-peach aspen leaves make up in beauty for what we lack in length. The crispness in the air is perfect for long walks, too.

Winter seems like the longest time of year for many Alaskans. Where I live, the first snow usually arrives in late October, and the last snow can be in April or May. Frost and snow are beautiful, especially on the tree limbs, and the mountains seem more majestic when they’re covered in snow. We hit the shortest day of the year on Winter Solstice at 5 and a half hours of daylight here. The short days of daylight can be a problem mentally, but I find I’m usually okay if I stay busy and don’t dwell on it too much. The good news is, I often get a lot of writing done in the winter!

While I love our spring and summer the most, I have to admit that there are things about every season I like. I think I’d get bored without the change in seasons. 

 

What do you have in your part of the world? Or do you have a favorite season?

 

Lynn Lovegreen has lived in Alaska for over fifty years. After twenty years in the classroom, she retired to make more time for writing. She enjoys her friends and family, reading, and volunteering at her local library. Her young adult historical fiction is set in Alaska, a great place for drama, romance, and independent characters. See her website at www.lynnlovegreen.com. You can also find her on Facebook and Instagram.