Indian Summer is a Time for Fall Fun

If it’s October, can Indian summer be far behind? And what, exactly, is Indian summer anyway? I’ve just always thought it was the blessing of a warm spell before real winter set in; and so it is, but there are several explanations of how the name came about.

Indian summer is the commonly used term for abnormally warm weather in mid- or late autumn with generally clear skies, sunny hazy days, and cool nights. Meteorologically speaking, there must be at least one killing frost and a substantial period of cool weather before the warm spell for it to be considered a true Indian summer. In addition, those weather geniuses say that that while Indian summer does not occur every year, some years may have two or three such periods.

Some sources claim that the origin of the term goes back at least 200 years, relating it to the way American Indians availed themselves of the extra opportunity to increase their winter stores. Or, other sources claim that Indians didn’t like attacking in cold weather. But then came a time, almost every year around St. Martin’s day, when it would suddenly turn warm again, and the Indians would have another go at the settlers. The settlers called this Indian summer. But whatever, it’s a great time to pause and enjoy the blessing.

While you’re outside, avail yourself of some of the last blooming wildflowers of the year, and take them home to dry and enjoy through the winter. Carry a pair of pruning shears in the car; you never know what you might find. Broom corn, joe-pye weed, pearly everlasting, and tansy are some of the most common and easiest to dry. Simply remove the foliage, bind the stems together, then hang them upside down to dry.

Almost forgot: the proper environment for drying plants is important. It should be dark and well-ventilated, like a garage or shed or attic. Just pound some nails in the rafters and hang the plant bundles from them. You can even use one of those old wooden clothes drying racks if there’s still one around somewhere. The main thing is to give the stems plenty of room so they dry straight.

Thanksgiving and Christmas are on the way, and if you’re wanting to make some new wreaths, gather some of the plentiful grapevines in this area. The best time to cut the vines is usually right after the first frost, when most of the leaves have fallen off (a nice Indian summer day, perhaps?). Try to cut the vines in long sections. If you don’t use the vines soon after cutting, they will dry out and break as you try to intertwine them. If this happens, soak them in water to make them pliable again. A grapevine wreath makes a natural background for dried flowers. You can weave them through the vines or attach them with glue or wire.

Indian summer is the perfect time to plant winter hardy bulbs such as daffodils and tulips, and digging out and storing frost sensitive bulbs such as gladiolas, calla lilies and begonias. It’s time to harvest late potatoes, cabbage, and the last tomatoes of the season. But don’t let chores consume all your Indian summer days; the warm weather won’t wait for weekends. Play a little hooky maybe and learn the art of meandering. Get the shorts and t-shirts back out and enjoy the sights and smells of a warm autumn afternoon on a back road.