The Last Days of Indian Summer

It's mid-October and the mild, sunny days of Indian Summer are drawing to a close, I fear. The forecast is for rain, cooler days and frosty nights by the weekend. I ponder the possibility of trying to overwinter some plants indoors by the sliding glass doors. Will they get enough light? Will the chill of being by the door be too much?

I'm still learning the Ohio gardening calendar. Last year this time I was giving away tropical plants in Houston, preparing for the move up north. The only plants I brought with me were a couple Christmas cacti and an Althea seedling. Everything else, all my beloved hibiscus, my tropical foliage plants, my cacti, I left behind in the loving care of friends and neighbors.

My plan for the immediate future is to protect my pansy pots, my rosemary, my geranium, and my begonia by pulling them up under the deck overhang. I guess it's time to bring the cacti in, probably. I figure there will still be more sunny, warmish days when the plants will enjoy being outside, but I should acclimate them to indoor living over the next couple weeks. If they survive the winter, Yay!! If not, no harm trying, right?

And, by the way, I've been seeing lots of brown and black furry caterpillars, lots of hawks, and lots of bees. Is that a sign?