We joke around and say, "There are two seasons in Alaska: Winter and Construction." In many respects that's true.
This picture was taken Oct. 12, 2008. First snow
I think you folks understand what Winter is, even if you don't fully grok dealing with an Alaskan Winter. It starts in October and continues through May. Yes. May. Sometimes June. For instance, you don't want to plant anything outside until June 15th. That's when it will stop freezing at night. Sometimes you can plant sooner, but to be REALLY sure, you wait.
Although there is quite a bit of variation, I've stood in snowdrifts in June. So you never know what it is going to be like from year to year. It keeps things interesting!
You have to remember that during the winter, we get down to only two to four hours of light per day. On December 21, the Winter Solstice, we all have huge parties and celebrate that the days are now getting longer and that the sun is returning!
This picture is March. Most of you have crocuses popping up at that time.
We got lots of snow last year, which I enjoyed. A few years ago we got very little snow, and that was disastrous for a few reasons. The dog sled races had to be moved to where there was enough snow to run the sleds. There wasn't enough snow to slow down the moose, so wolves started snatching dogs off chains and out of yards, because they couldn't catch the moose.
Sometime toward the end of April or the end of May things start to melt, and we sometimes get a Mud Season, (if we are unlucky) and other times there's a nice, dry Breakup. Traditionally Breakup is when the river ice breaks up, but in Interior Alaska it basically means we aren't freezing our asses off anymore. Snow starts sliding off roofs, and it actually gets above freezing during the day. By this point we are gaining daylight at the rate of about 5 minutes per day.
Construction starts even before the ground has thawed, with preparations to get into full swing the moment the gravel is unfrozen enough to be loaded into trucks. I don't think Alaska could do anything without gravel!
I talk about Spring when I see pussywillows. Before that, I'm hesitant to even say that word, the S-word. It might jinx us, it might snow again, who knows?
Spring is pretty brown. Once the trees green up it's officially Summer!
I had to put an air conditioner in my studio, because it was 100° in there for the month of July! It can be 100° even outside in June and July. Or it can be 80° the entire time. You never know.
Summer is about six weeks long most years. Yeah, I know, it's not much! But it sure is appreciated!
Last Sunday was the last day of Summer here. Seriously! Sunday it was warm and nice, and Monday I got up and it was 40° outside! The fireweed is all fuzzy, the birds have been loading up on seed for a week now, and I just took my plants in off the balcony because it got to 35°last night.
If it snows, I'll scream!
It's really Fall when the leaves go.
That's September 2008.
So there you have it. The seasons of Alaska!