Indian Summer: The Magic of the Last Warm Days, and Why We Call It That?
It's a season with an unmistakable scent and light. Mornings are already cold and wrapped in mist, but the sun still has strength in the afternoon. Indian summer. A meteorological phenomenon at the turn of September and October, giving us one last chance to soak up energy before winter.
But do you know why this beautiful season is called "Indian summer" (literally "old wives' summer" in Czech), and which flowers are inseparably tied to it?
What Exactly Is Indian Summer?
Meteorologically speaking, it's a period of dry, calm, and sunny weather. It's characterized by a big temperature swing:
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Warm days: The sun still has power, and temperatures climb high.
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Cold nights: As soon as the sun sets, the temperature drops sharply – a signal that autumn is already knocking at the door.
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Low humidity: The air tends to be crystal clear, giving excellent visibility and a deep blue sky.
Bouquets in Indian Summer Colors
The Mystery of the Name: Spiders, Stars, or Old Women?
We use the term "Indian summer" (in Czech, literally "old wives' summer" – babí léto) all the time, but its origin has several fascinating explanations. Which one do you believe?
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Drifting spiderwebs (the most common theory): During this season, tiny spiders spin threads that float through the air. In the rays of the autumn sun they shimmer silvery and resemble the gray hair of old women ("babky" in Czech) – hence the name.
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The starry sky: Another theory points to astronomy. During this season, the open star cluster the Pleiades, in the constellation Taurus, is clearly visible in the sky. In Czech it's colloquially called "Little Chicks," but in other Slavic languages it was also called "the old women."
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Summer grown old: A poetic interpretation says nature ages just like people do. Migrating birds fly away, and summer turns into an "old woman" – calmer, wiser, and slowly departing.
Indian Summer in Floristry: An Explosion of Color
For us at KvětinyExpres.cz, Indian summer is one of the most inspiring seasons. Nature shifts its palette from summer green to deep orange, red, brown, and gold.
The typical flowers of this season are:
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Sunflowers: Symbols of the sun that hold on to the warmth.
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Chrysanthemums and asters: The queens of autumn, which stay fresh for a long time.
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Rosehips and rowan berries: Berries that add texture and a rustic look to bouquets.
Tip From Florist Monika: Watch Out for Fruit!
"Indian summer is also harvest time, and that can be dangerous for your bouquets. Never place a vase of fresh flowers next to a bowl of ripening fruit (especially apples). Ripe fruit releases ethylene, a gas that makes flowers age and wilt much faster. Give your bouquet its own space, and cooler water."
Enjoy these beautiful days full of color and calm. And if you want to bring a piece of Indian summer to someone's home, our autumn arrangements are exactly the right choice.
Indian Summer in a Vase: What to Choose
The colours of Indian summer are best captured by sunflowers, chrysanthemums, dahlias, hydrangeas and berries such as rose hips. For inspiration, read our article on autumn flowers, and find ready-made bouquets in the Autumn bouquets category.
Frequently Asked Questions About Indian Summer
When is Indian summer?
Usually around the turn of September and October. The exact date cannot be determined because it depends on the weather, which differs every year.
Why is it called Indian summer?
Most often because of the floating spider threads that glisten in the autumn sun and resemble the grey hair of old women. There are other explanations too, for example the Pleiades star cluster.
Which flowers belong to Indian summer?
Sunflowers, chrysanthemums, asters and berries such as rose hips and rowan in orange, red, brown and gold.
Can you deliver an autumn bouquet today?
Yes. In Prague we deliver express within 90–120 minutes or at an exact time, and in Brno, Ostrava, Olomouc, Plzeň and other express cities within 120–180 minutes of ordering. We deliver across the whole Czech Republic, more on the page Flower delivery in the Czech Republic.
Team KvětinyExpres.cz
