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Quote of the Day: Indian Summer

October 9th, 2011

Generally, the first frosts will be followed by fine, bright, warm days, the glorious suspension of what is certain to come, that perfection of weather is called “Indian Summer”.

Joe Eck & Wayne Winterrowd in Living Seasonally: The Kitchen Garden and the Table at North Hill


Technically, we haven’t had our first frost here at Chiot’s Run, but we’ve had temperatures in the 30’s already. The tropical plants in the garden are showing their discomfort, brown crispy edges on their leaves, some have died back completely.

For the past few days and most of the coming week, we’re having temperatures in the 80’s during the day. It still gets down into the 50’s at night, so as not to fully fool you into thinking it’ll stick around. I do love Indian Summer, it’s kind of like the last piece of cake, always make sure you savor it because when it’s gone you know there’s no more. This is something Lucy, the resident chiots, is very good at this.

For the last couple days and the days to come, you’ll find me out in the garden, planting cover crops, weeding, mulching, raking, emptying pots and all those things you do to put the garden to bed. There are always so many chores in the fall, but I’m glad they always come during that perfect weather.

It won’t be all work and no play, I try take some time to simply sit and enjoy the weather. My favorite way to enjoy a little down time in the this time of year is to simply sit on the front porch watching the breeze blow through the colorful leaves.

Do you have an Indian Summer in your climate? What’s your favorite way to take advantage of a nice day?

18 Comments to “Quote of the Day: Indian Summer”
  1. Colleen Vanderlinden on October 9, 2011 at 6:25 am

    We’re having similar weather here. I’ve been busy weeding and harvesting what will likely be the last of the tomatoes. I’ve also planted a late sowing of mache for the area that will soon be covered by a low tunnel. It still feels like there’s so much to do, but I love this time of the year, and I’m definitely enjoying it.

    Reply to Colleen Vanderlinden's comment

  2. kathi cookk on October 9, 2011 at 7:23 am

    Today i couldn’t decide between a bike ride or a hike so I am riding this morning and hiking this afternoon. I savor these last few warm days. Garden cleanup will have to wait. I do have to plant my garlic soon.

    Reply to kathi cookk's comment

  3. Jennifer Fisk on October 9, 2011 at 7:55 am

    My favorite way to take advantage of an October Indian Summer day is to go to Little Moose Island next to Schoodic Penninsula of Acadia National Park. I can walk out there at low tide. I visit where we left my Mom’s ashes and pick cranberries and rose hips. It isn’t heavily visited so is very peaceful and the berries are totally wild and very tasty.

    Reply to Jennifer Fisk's comment

    • Susy on October 9, 2011 at 8:05 am

      Sounds wonderful, what a beautiful way to take advantage of the last good weather of the season!

      Reply to Susy's comment

  4. goatpod2 on October 9, 2011 at 8:06 am

    We’ve already had our 1st frost here last Sunday and we do get Indian Summers sometimes.

    Amy

    Reply to goatpod2's comment

  5. Cherise on October 9, 2011 at 8:38 am

    Enjoying the Indian Summer here in PA too. I’ve been spending it working for a few hours on the garden each day but I’ve also taken a couple mornings to ride horse with a friend. My horse is gratefully borrowed but it allows me the pleasure of reliving my teenage days when life consisted of only school and horses. Now it is filled with so much minutia that I have to concentrate on living in the moment – although days like this make it easier.

    Thanks for a great blog.

    Reply to Cherise's comment

  6. daisy on October 9, 2011 at 8:42 am

    No Indian summer here in Central FL, but we have been enjoying two SOLID days of rain. It’s so soothing. Planting beans as soon as there’s any letup. Enjoy your autumn weather!

    Reply to daisy's comment

  7. Melissa on October 9, 2011 at 8:48 am

    The nice weather makes the fall cleanup enjoyable. I’ve got to mulch, plant garlic/onions, and divide a few plants and then I’ll be done! No 30’s temps here yet but we’ve hit low 50’s a few times. I think we have another 3, maybe 4 weeks until first frost- just enough time for my snap peas to give me a short harvest!!

    Reply to Melissa's comment

    • Susy on October 9, 2011 at 3:56 pm

      I need to start planting my garlic and onions as well.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  8. Joan on October 9, 2011 at 8:53 am

    Making cider. With our neighbors we made 8 gallons yesterday. More apple picking tomorrow, and then cider or applesauce…

    Reply to Joan's comment

  9. KimH on October 9, 2011 at 9:27 am

    We’re celebrating this day going to the Apple Butter Festival out in Burton, Oh… one of our annual fall pilgrimages. Yesterday we went to an annual clam bake.. Sure didnt seem much like clam bake weather though, until the sun finally went down… It got a little cool then, thankfully!

    I love Fall.. Indian Summers & all… I still have to pull up my tomatoes & spaghetti squash plants and plant garlic & spring bulbs… Probably do that thru the week since the weekend plans are full…

    Reply to KimH's comment

    • Susy on October 9, 2011 at 3:56 pm

      I’ll have to keep the Apple Butter Festival in mind for next year, sounds like fun!

      Reply to Susy's comment

      • KimH on October 9, 2011 at 6:46 pm

        Its very small but quite quaint. Its at the Century Village (Geauga County Historical Society) just off the square. This year they had an Octoberfest on the square, that had a few venders and an ox roast too.
        We didnt see this until we were already on the bikes and on our way to Sages Apple Farm (Rte 6). We had been commenting to friends that usually there were more venders at the Apple Butter Festival and we realized they were on the square this year.

        to KimH's comment

      • mistresseve on October 10, 2011 at 8:23 pm

        I haven’t been to the Apple Butter Festival in years, even though I only live in the next township over. I did, however, hear that it was small this year.
        In the past there have been local artisans such as a smithy and a straw broom maker and the like demonstrating and selling their wares–craftsmen and women associated with Century Village, I suppose. Although I didn’t ask whether the craftsmen were there this year, I imagine that they still had those enormous bubbling kettles of apple butter being stirred over the fires that smell so fantastic. It wouldn’t be the Apple Butter Festival without them!

        to mistresseve's comment

  10. Nebraska Dave on October 9, 2011 at 10:06 am

    Susy, Indian summer is such a joy here in Nebraska. We have not had our first frost yet but it can come any time now. The official date for the first frost is October 15th give or take a couple weeks. Most of the garden is done for the year. The Indian summer will be for me to rake the mountain of leaves for the compost pile, tear down and store away the automatic watering system, prepare the garden beds for next spring, and sit on the front patio and watch the neighbor hood kids play. Each season has enjoyable things.

    Winter this will bring experiments inside the house. These experiments will be with trying to grow garden plants in the basement under grow lights, trying to finish the food storage area, and continuing to work on bathroom remodeling upgrades. Oh yeah and the best of all would be to plan the garden for next year. It’s only two months until the first seed catalog arrives.

    Have a great Indian summer.

    Reply to Nebraska Dave's comment

  11. Sincerely, Emily on October 9, 2011 at 12:11 pm

    We don’t have Indian Summer like you do. I remember those wonderful warm days and cool crisp nights and the smell and feel of fall. October is bringing us some wonderful rain in the San Antonio area. I have enjoyed walking out there to see what seeds have popped up. Our evenings have started to cool down a bit and I enjoy sitting out on the deck or front porch and take in the sights and sounds.

    Reply to Sincerely, Emily's comment

  12. Mist on October 9, 2011 at 5:42 pm

    How about never ending summer? At least that is what is seems like but come November we get our cold.

    Reply to Mist's comment

  13. Sierra on October 9, 2011 at 8:03 pm

    I love the first picture!

    Reply to Sierra's comment

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This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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