Fall Horseback Ride

Fall Horseback Ride
John Clymer
October 20, 1956

Most of the 80-plus Post covers by John Clymer feature natural settings: a shimmering lake surrounded by summer greenery, a charming New England harbor enveloped by snow, and, of course, views like the one at left of Washington, the beautiful state from which the artist hailed.

The riders are passing through a forest of tamaracks, which possess a rare trait among conifers; the needles turn gold in the autumn and fall to the forest floor. The fallen needles reflect the light, giving the ground an almost luminescent quality.

“In fall, every tamarack forest byway becomes a yellow brick road down which you can skip in a haze of glowing splendor,” writes Lori Micken in an online column for Montana Outdoors. The tamarack is a common sight in Clymer’s home state, and in this Post cover he captured just such a yellow brick road in Wilson Canyon, Washington.

Fall Harvest

Fall Harvest
John Atherton
October 27, 1945

The corn hanging on a neighbor’s barn in Arlington, Vermont, inspired John Atherton to begin sketching the harvest still life (left). “Knowing any harvest picture would need a pumpkin, he went into the garden and got one,” wrote Post editors in 1945. Deciding autumn leaves were needed, the artist gathered some along the road. Ferns would also add to the arrangement, so out he went to gather a few. The ferns died very quickly, and he gathered more. “By the time he had set his stage, Mr. Atherton had done quite a little of harvesting himself,” wrote the editors.

Between 1942 and 1961 Atherton painted 47 Post covers. His style was realism, known for its accurate, almost photographic portrayal of its subjects. This was a far cry from the idealized images depicted by his friend, Norman Rockwell. Atherton’s critical attitude to such sentimentality is noted in the feature, “Till the Cows Come Home.” But the painter was not completely immune to sentiment: Note the initials carved in the beam at left, presumably signifying the love between him and his wife Maxine Breeze.

Fall Leaves

Fall Leaves
W. Haskell Coffin
November 5, 1927

“The making of a portrait is an imaginative work, because of the blending of two personalities, the sitter and the artist,” William Haskell Coffin (1878-1941) told Charleston, South Carolina, reporters upon returning to his hometown.

Coffin studied portraiture while at the Corcoran School of Art in Washington, D.C., and in Europe. But the formative years of his artistic career were spent in New York, where he won critical acclaim painting portraits of the chorus girls from Ziegfeld’s Follies—some of whom modeled for his 32 Post covers.

The attractive young women were often posed with a single object, such as a book or floral bouquet. In this 1927 illustration, the props are merely a few autumn leaves, some gray clouds, and the chill autumn breeze.

Apple Picking Time

Apple Picking Time
John Falter
September 27, 1947

“It has to be a love affair every time,” artist John Falter said about his work. “If you aren’t in love with what you are trying to put on canvas, you’d better quit.”

Falter started the painting at left by sketching the barns and rail fence at a farm near Weston, Missouri, and then completed it at his home in Pennsylvania. The trees, the apple pickers, and the farm woman were done from memory. As Post editors noted in 1947: “It wasn’t hard to recall similar scenes from his own boyhood (in Nebraska), although as he worked, the phase of apple picking Falter recalled most vividly was fresh apple pie.”

One of the Post’s most popular illustrators, Falter did more than 125 covers frequently employing a bird’s eye view of the scene. (See “Can You Guess the City?”)

Bring Home Pumpkins

Bring Home Pumpkins
John Falter
November 1, 1952

“Falter’s masterful treatment of light stems from the fact that he is a nature lover, and happily gifted to reflect her moods,” wrote the Post in 1971. “Most of his paintings interrelate human and natural life, and Falter seems ever drawn to the sky.”

The sky in this 1952 cover is nearly black, allowing the artist to contrast the golden haystacks with light from an unknown source, be that parking lot lights or lanterns. The blues, greens, and reds from the family heading back with their trophies add a needed dash of color.

Girl Walking to School

Girl Walking to School
Sarah Stilwell-Weber
October 9, 1909

In the heart of the Golden Age of Illustration, Sarah Stilwell-Weber (1878-1939) trained under the best: Howard Pyle. He and fellow students, such as Post illustrator N.C. Wyeth, greatly influenced her work.

A prolific artist, she illustrated over 65 Post covers between 1904 and 1925. During this period, she also worked for many other leading magazines, including Vogue, Collier’s, and Better Homes and Gardens.

Classic Covers: Autumn’s Beauty The Saturday Evening Post

Happy October!  Fall is here in Raleigh, North Carolina, and I’m looking forward to cooler days.

Last year, my first fall project was the transformation of my moss-covered Hobby Lobby “R.” This craft is a quick and easy way to bring a bit of fall into your own home.

Decorative Fall Leaf Initial The Saturday Evening Post

Get into the spirit of fall with this unique, handcrafted wreath in warm autumn colors! The wreath is super easy to make and very inexpensive—I purchased all my materials for under $10!

Fall Wreath with Felt Rosettes The Saturday Evening Post

Cartoons: Autumn The Saturday Evening Post

Classic Covers: The Good Things Autumn Brings The Saturday Evening Post

The Upper Peninsula's Porcupine Mountains. Photo by Jeffrey Foltice, courtesy michigan.org

With two national forests, America’s first National Lakeshore, and dozens of state parks and woodlands, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula offers as many beautiful fall locales as anywhere in the U.S. Furthermore, it is one of the most isolated places in the mainland. The UP makes up one quarter of Michigan’s land area but is home to only three percent of the state’s population, making it secluded enough that visitors can enjoy natural serenity without getting overrun by “leaf peepers.” Here are some of the most notable places in the UP.

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Lake Superior waves meet cliffs at the Pictured Rocks' Battleship Row.

This destination in north central UP on Lake Superior is worth visiting at any time. There are hundreds of miles of trails, sandstone cliffs, waterfalls, a seemingly endless beach, and sparkling turquoise blue water. Unlike most Great Lake beaches that are simply sandy, Pictured Rocks’ shoreline is strewn with literally billions of small rocks, each a different color, and a reminder that Superior sits on much more rocky terrain than its cousins. Spring brings a myriad of wildflowers, summers are a pleasant 70 degrees, and winter affords snowmobiling and cross country skiing opportunities.

Chapel Rock, a famed sandstone formation at Pictured Rocks. Photo by Joel Feenstra.

However, Pictured Rocks becomes positively enchanting in fall. Trees such as beech, aspen, maple, and birch put on a show each autumn, their vibrant colors complemented by a palette of evergreen, sandstone, and shimmering blue. An interesting species is the Tamarack, a deciduous conifer tree. Although this may sound like an oxymoron, it is one of only a few trees in the world that sheds needles in fall, changing from a dark evergreen to a golden yellow in the process. Due to the moderating influence of Superior, Pictured Rocks is one of the last places in the UP to experience leaf change even though it is at the northern edge, making it available later in the year. Perhaps best of all, cooler temperatures mean that fall is a time when visitors can enjoy the park without being pestered by what locals call the “UP State Bird”–the mosquito.

Waterfalls

Upper Tahquemenon Falls, the second largest waterfall east of the Mississippi.

One special thing about the UP is its unique geology. It sits at the southern edge of the Canadian Shield, a feature named because it extends from the Great Lakes all the way around the Hudson Bay into the arctic, giving it a shield-like appearance. In the last ice age, receding glaciers stripped the Shield of most of its topsoil, exposing massive quantities of bedrock. This means water doesn’t easily carve out riverbeds in the UP, but instead travels over unyielding rock. The end result: waterfalls. The UP has over 300 of them, including Tahquamenon Falls , the second largest east of the Mississippi.

Bond Falls in the western UP. Photo by Myron Reynard.

It is hard to think of a better example of nature’s beauty than a waterfall surrounded by fall foliage, and this is a sight that welcomes visitors regardless of location on the peninsula. Majestic Tahquamenon is in the east. In the west, Ottawa National Forest offers Agate Falls (see photo at top) and Bond Falls. Chapel, Sable, Munising, and Miners Falls are among over 20 waterfalls in Alger County, which is also the home of the Pictured Rocks. Eagle, Silver, and Canyon Falls await in the northern Keweenaw Peninsula, and Pemene, Rapid River, and Haymeadow Falls exist to the south.

Keweenaw Peninsula

The Northern Lights reflect off Lake Superior. Photo by Dan Urbanski, courtesy pasty.com

Keweenaw is the Upper Peninsula’s, well, upper peninsula, and its remoteness makes it consistently listed among the top places in America for leaf color road trips. Some say that it is the best place in the U.S. mainland to see another type of fall color—the aurora borealis—for a number of reasons. Keweenaw is, of course, northern. Its small population makes light pollution low. Fall brings clear night skies and one can see for miles across the lake, and it is the season when the aurora begins to pick up.

A typical autumn drive in the UP. Photo by Brenda Leigh, courtesy pasty.com

Keweenaw’s history also makes it worth a visit. It was once home to the largest copper deposit in the world, which American Indians started mining before the Egyptians built the pyramids. Occasionally, visitors stumble across the ancient hammers and tools they used. Copper really boomed in the 1800s, and historical mining ruins are everywhere. One last thing worth seeing is Brockway Mountain Drive. This scenic road travels along the Keweenaw Fault, a remnant of a billion-year-old continental rift system, and offers endless panoramic views.

Special thanks to Brody Block at Pictured Rocks, Charlie Hopper at pasty.com and the good people at michigan.org.

Fall Travel: Michigan’s Upper Peninsula The Saturday Evening Post

As you make way through the apple orchards this season (click here to find out where you can go apple picking), here’s how to tell if you’re picking the best apple for you.

Pickyourown.org suggests the following apples for mid to late October:

For everyday eating and snacking (to keep the doctor away): Stayman Winesap, Granny Smith, Pink Lady, Suncrisp, and Fuji [One medium apple contains about 80 to 90 calories and 4.4 grams of fiber]

For Cooking: Stayman Winesap, Granny Smith, Pink Lady, Suncrisp, and Fuji

For Apple Sauce: Stayman Winesap, Pink Lady, and especially Fuji

For Pie: Pink Lady, Suncrisp, and Fuji

For Apple Butter: Pink Lady and Suncrisp

Core Facts:

* Which apple varieties made the top 10? Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Gala, Fuji, Granny Smith, McIntosh, Rome, Idared, Jonathan, and Empire. Runners-up include York, Cortland, Northern Spy, Rhode Island Greening, and Stayman.
* Washington, New York, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and California are the top five apple-producing states.
* Planting an apple seed from a particular apple will not produce a tree of that same variety. The seed is a cross of the tree the fruit was grown on and the variety that was the cross pollinator.
* Apples are a member of the rose family.
* When bobbing for apples, remember that fresh apples float because 25 percent of their volume is air.

Check out these delicious apple recipes!

Apples and Pork Chops

Baked Apples

Apple Sauce

Apple Pie

Apple Butter

Them Apples The Saturday Evening Post

The blue of sky
Leaning heavy on land
Is velvet
Folded in the hand.

A catapult of brasses
In my ear
Is red
In the autumn of the year.


—October 17, 1959, The Saturday Evening Post

The Color Chart The Saturday Evening Post

Another terrific face appears on the November 1933 Country Gentleman cover by artist Henry Hintermeister. While the kid may be small, his concentration is intense. The dog, however, is just concentrating on the water bucket. We all have our priorities.

You Can Be the Water Boy
Frances Tipton Hunter
November 27, 1937

How do you become suddenly popular when you’re the smallest kid in the neighborhood? Get a brand-new football for your birthday. Artist Frances Tipton Hunter painted the cutest kids, and the November 27, 1937, cover is a picture-perfect example. The adorable tyke shifts attention away from the bigger kids, who, apparently, would like to get a game going. It appears that negotiations involve offering him the exalted position of water boy in exchange for use of the ball. Is this the same boy concentrating so intently on the game on the 1933 Country Gentleman cover mentioned earlier? Hmmm.

When did the first football cover appear on The Saturday Evening Post? Would you believe October 27, 1900? This painting of what appears to be a rousing game came from an artist who rarely scored a coveted Saturday Evening Post cover. His name remains “Unknown.”

It’s crunch time for the boys in artist Frederic Stanley’s November 1926 cover. Unfortunately, what is being crunched appears to be the boy on the bottom. Did we mention this can be a rough sport? Need further evidence? See Norman Rockwell’s November 1925 cover. Ouch! Right in the breadbasket.

Let the games begin! But may all your football memories be less painful!

Classic Covers: Are You Ready for Some Football? The Saturday Evening Post

The charming scene of children attempting to get friendly with an irresistible colt is one of the many beautiful landscapes John Clymer did for the Post. Little Sis is a bit leery, but her brother knows his way around horses. Clymer also loved horses, as we see on the October 20, 1956, cover of the two horseback riders against multihued tamaracks in Washington State. Alas, the young man seems more interested in observing his blushing riding partner than in the blushing tints of the trees.

If you’re over 40, we’re willing to bet you have four distinct autumn memories from childhood:

Walking Home Through Leaves by John Clymer, October 7, 1950

1) Shuffling through the leaves on your way home, as depicted in the October 7, 1950, cover of the boy, girl, and dog (also by artist John Clymer).

2) Playing in a pile of freshly raked leaves, like the boy in Clymer’s October 16, 1954, cover. (Isn’t that why you rake them in the first place?)

3) Burning leaves, as the man and boy on J.C. Leyendecker’s November 6, 1937, cover and the couple on artist John Newton Howitt’s December 1936 cover are doing.

4) The chill of an autumn rain, captured on Clymer’s October 20, 1962, cover. “If there is a puddle to be found, kids will find it and walk in it,” the artist said.

Autumn also celebrates the harvest, as we see in artist Mead Schaeffer’s October 1948 cover. And flying south for the winter, as the mallards are doing on another gorgeous Clymer cover from October 1957. And hayrides! The young folks on Alan Foster’s September 30, 1933, cover enjoy the crisp evening air. If you click on the image and observe, it raises an interesting question: When is the last time you wore a tie and spiffy shoes on a hayride, such as the young man with the ukulele? Never mind—they’re having a blast.

Classic Covers: Autumn Art The Saturday Evening Post

And suddenly strange, irresolute,
Stands in an orchard where the haze
Of autumn enters, and the fruit
Falls final as these summer days:

And over his tanned shoulder looks,
Dreading too soon the senseless chime
Of the harsh bell, and the hard books
Recalling him from his true time.

Published September 12,1953, The Saturday Evening Post.

Swift Summer The Saturday Evening Post

Pick & Preserve

1. The skin will be hard and shell-like. You should be able to press your fingernail into the skin without puncturing the fruit.

2. The pumpkin should sound hollow inside when you gently thump on it.

3. Check for cracks in the stem: another sign that the pumpkin is ready to be picked.

4. Be sure the pumpkin has reached its desired color. Once the pumpkin is picked, the color will stop developing.

5. Use sharp scissors or a blade to the cut the fruit from the vine. Try to leave a long handle, but avoid carrying the pumpkin by the stem as it may not support the weight of the fruit. Alternatively, if you do not wish to cut the fruit, you can let the vine die back and pick them at your leisure (as long as it’s before the first hard freeze).

6. To help harden the skin and heal any scuffs or scratches, cure the pumpkin(s) for 10 days at 80 to 85 F, and a humidity of around 80 percent.

7. Store the pumpkin(s) in a cool (about 50 F), dry place, away from any ripening fruits like apples or pears. Allow each pumpkin to have some “breathing” room. The circulation helps keep the pumpkin dry.

It’s not necessary to cure pumpkins if you plan to use them right away. Properly cured and stored pumpkins, however, can last several months. But be sure to periodically check the fruit and remove the ones that show signs of decay.

To Eat or to Carve?
All pumpkins are edible; however, the textures and sweetness vary from species to species.

Common pumpkin varieties include Connecticut field pumpkins (great for Halloween carving), Howden pumpkins, and Howden Biggie pumpkins—all members of the species Cucurbita pepo.

Members of the species Cucurbita moschata are usually a tan color and oblong shape and are used mostly for commercial canning.

For sweeter recipes, such as pumpkin pie, varieties like Cinderella and Sugar Pie are recommended. The skin is substantially thinner than a jack-o’-lantern, and the flesh is much sweeter.

Instead of canned pumpkin, try using fresh pumpkin puree in your favorite pumpkin recipes. For the best results, slice and seed a fresh pumpkin and roast in an 325 F-oven for 30 to 40 minutes, until tender. When cool, remove skin and mash, blend, or puree the flesh.

Click here for the perfect pumpkin pancakes!

Picking the Pumpkin The Saturday Evening Post

Lesson 1: Know the average date of the first hard frost in your region. Then check the date on the seed packets for the recommended harvesting days. Count backwards from the frost date to determine the proper planting time.

Lesson 2: Know what to plant. If your fall season is typically mild, cauliflower and cucumbers are good choices, in addition to crops that are more tolerant of the colder climates. These include broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, carrots, beets, collards, kale, kohlrabi, mustard, onions, radishes, spinach, lettuce, turnips, and Swiss chard.

Know the average date of the first hard frost in your region. The NCDC Freeze/Frost maps can help.

Lesson 3: Finally, know how to protect your garden from the enemy: cold weather. Together, your family can build a miniature greenhouse known as a cold frame. This will help protect plants from frigid winds and dropping temperatures. Cold frames can be constructed with a variety of materials. Some use polycarbonate or glass; others use plastic or nylon sheeting held up with wire hoops or wood frames. You can make a cold frame using an old window and scrap lumber just by nailing the scrap wood together to form a four-sided base, or fasten the ends to the sides using galvanized L-brackets and galvanized screws. (Be sure to use untreated lumber as chemicals from treated lumber may contaminate the soil and produce). Then, top it with a storm window. Consider hinging the window to the frame at the back so the window can be propped open on warm days.

The height of the sides should accommodate the crops you want to grow. Recommended frame dimensions include 3 feet by 6 feet or 4 feet by 8 feet. The height should be about 8 to 12 inches.

Position the cold frame on a south-facing slope backed by a building, which will protect the frame from north and west winds. Seed the frame with your selected cool-season veggies and enjoy your crops fresh into winter!

The National Garden Bureau provides a helpful directory for researching local garden extensions: ngb.org/gardening/links/index.cfm.

Fall Family Gardens The Saturday Evening Post

The Post profiles some of the best.

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (New Mexico)

More than 600 balloons take to the air during one of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta's mass ascensions.

A spectacular event takes place in the skies over New Mexico every October. No, it’s not a UFO sighting over Roswell. It’s the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, where hundreds of hot air balloons dot the sky in one of the most amazing aerial displays in the world. The eye-catching exhibition is made possible by a perfect combination of desert climate and valley geography, creating what is known as the “Albuquerque Box.” Like many desert areas, extreme temperature fluctuations occur between day and night. As the sun rises, cool air pools along the valley floor and travels northward while hotter air rises and travels south. As a result, hot air balloons can travel in one direction, change altitude, and come back in a “box” shape. If weather permits, this environmental phenomenon allows a “mass ascension” (600+ balloons in the air) to occur—a flight of epic proportion, which, according to the event’s Web site, has become the “most photographed event in the world.”

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

When: October 3-11, 2009
Where: Albuquerque, NM
Web site: balloonfiesta.com

Northeast Kingdom Fall Foliage Festival (Vermont)

An old covered bridge outside of Cabot, Vermont.

Vermont is a great place to be in late September/early October, particularly if you visit Northeast Kingdom’s Fall Foliage Festival. The celebration takes place in seven towns over seven days and pays tribute to the wonderful fall colors of the New England landscape. The location is appropriate for such a festival since all of the towns are in or near Groton State Forest, a 25,000-acre fall wonderland that encompasses six state parks. In addition to hiking and sightseeing, visitors can enjoy art exhibits, tasty dinners, and farmers’ markets in quaint, historic towns.

Northeast Kingdom Fall Foliage Festival

When: September 27-October 3, 2009
Where: Various places in Northeast Kingdom, Vermont
Web site: nekchamber.com

27th Annual Bean Fest and Championship Outhouse Race (Arkansas)

Bean artisans create a masterpiece at the Mountain View, Arkansas Annual Bean Fest.

Mountain View, Arkansas, hosts a festival every October celebrating a food taste buds love but cohabitants hate—the Bean Fest and Championship Outhouse Race. While the nearby Ozark Mountains showcase pretty fall colors, the real sign of seasonal change is the unmistakable aroma of beans. The city provides cooking utensils and more than 1,000 pounds of beans to contestants, who prepare food for 40,000 visitors. After the feast, the outhouse race begins. What may sound like a bean-induced stampede to the bathroom is more like a soapbox derby with modified outhouses on wheels. These methane-powered vehicles race through the town in a one-of-a-kind spectacle that everyone enjoys—that is, unless there is a crash.

27th Annual Bean Fest & Championship Outhouse Race

When: October 29-31, 2009
Where: Mountain View, Arkansas
Web site: ozarkgetaways.com

Sonoma County Harvest Fair (California)

Beautiful vineyards call Sonoma Valley, California home, where more than 150 wineries produce world-class wine.

For those with too discriminating a palette for conventional Oktoberfest beer, the Sonoma County Harvest Fair is the destination of choice. During the three-day festival, more than 150 wineries offer visitors an unequaled opportunity to enjoy the agricultural heritage that has won this region and its legendary wines worldwide fame. The food isn’t too shabby either. This region is also known as a center for culinary creativity, and professional chefs perform live demonstrations at the Fair’s Showcase Café. The fair also boasts fresh produce, prize farm animals, a barnyard maze, and the World Championship Grape Stomp.

Sonoma Harvest Fair

When: October 2-4, 2009
Where: Sonoma County, California
Web site: harvestfair.org

Toronto International Film Festival (Ontario)

Toronto waterfront at night.

This north-of-the-border “Festival of Festivals” is renowned as one of the best places to catch new film debuts. Hotel Rwanda, American Beauty, Chariots of Fire, Life is Beautiful, The Princess Bride, Roger and Me, and Ray are but a few of the films that have debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival. The event featured screenings of over 300 movies in 2008, from a list of submissions that included more than 4,200 entries from 64 countries. Slumdog Millionaire, which went on to nab eight Academy Awards, won the Toronto International Film Festival People’s Choice Award in 2008. Although it’s impossible to predict if this year’s winner will be from Hollywood, Bollywood, or somewhere in-between, one thing is certain: visitors will enjoy some great movies.

Toronto Film Festival

When: September 10-19, 2009
Where: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Web site: tiff.net

Feast of the Hunter’s Moon (Indiana)

The Feast of the Hunter’s Moon commemorates French and Indian traders who celebrated this festival on the Wabash hundreds of years ago.

Fall festivals boast a time-honored history. Historically, autumn has been the time to enjoy the harvest. For many pioneers, this was the last opportunity to celebrate before winter settled in. The Feast of the Hunter’s Moon commemorates French and Indian traders who celebrated this festival on the Wabash hundreds of years ago, and visitors today relive the custom by dressing in traditional garb while enjoying old-fashioned pastimes, including children’s trade blanket, candle-dipping, story telling, puppet shows, cross-cut sawing, and tomahawk throwing. The location, Tippecanoe County’s Fort Ouiatenon—the first fortified European outpost in what is now Indiana, only adds to the historic experience. Popular attractions include reenactments of battles that occurred here, vintage arts and crafts activities, Native-American traditions, and authentic pioneer recipes, such as buffalo and “forfar bridies,” cooked over the open fire.

Feast of the Hunters Moon

When: October 10-11, 2009
Where: Fort Ouiatenon, Tippecanoe County, IN
Web site: tcha.mus.in.us

Charleston Halloween Events (South Carolina)

One of the many haunted locales found in Charleston, South Carolina.

One of the biggest national fall celebration is Halloween, and one of the best places to celebrate it is in Charleston. Everyone gets involved with Halloween in this notoriously haunted town—including the dead. While families can enjoy Fish or Treat at the South Carolina Aquarium, Scarecrows on the Square in nearby Summerville, or the Harvest Moon Hayride, those who enjoy the darker side might want to take part in some genuinely spooky activities. The Charleston Ghost and Dungeon Walking tour offers visitors access to the city’s infamous prerevolutionary dungeon. Hop aboard for the Haunted Harbor Tour, which sails to where the spirits of pirates and shipwrecked sailors are still thought to roam. Or you can join in the Halloween in the Swamp activities at Cyprus Gardens—one of numerous tours of haunted churches, graveyards, and the jail.

Charleston Halloween Events

When: Multiple dates
Where: Charleston, South Carolina
Web site: charlestoncvb.com

Floresville Peanut Festival (Texas)

The Floresville Peanut Festival Parade features floats and amusement for more than 15,000 visitors.

While apples, pumpkins, and colorful fall foliage garner the attention at many fall festivals, a less celebrated crop gets top billing at the Floresville Peanut Festival. More than 15,000 people visit the celebration every October, honoring the peanut in a manner that would make George Washington Carver proud. Families enjoy the Goober Games, where sack races, face painting, and the peanut toss take place. But the centerpiece of the festival is the parade, where King Reboog and Queen Tunaep (goober and peanut spelled backwards) wave to the crowd amid marching bands and street floats.

Floresville Peanut Festival

When: October 8-10, 2009
Where: Floresville, Texas
Web site: floresvillepeanutfestival.org

Long’s Peak Scottish-Irish Highland Festival (Colorado)

Athletes adorn their kilts for the annual caber toss competition.

Kilts, bagpipes, and haggis take center stage every September in Estes Park, Colorado, during the Long’s Peak Scottish-Irish Highland Festival. A parade, live music, and plenty of other traditional festival activities are staples, the true appeal of this celebration lies in the less conventional old-world activities. The fan favorite might be the U.S./International Jousting Competition. What is more entertaining than watching grown men carrying big sticks collide with each other on horseback? While the winner is no longer guaranteed a virtuous maiden, he can walk away with some serious prize money—up to $3000—so there is more at stake than chivalry and honor. Other main attractions include the hammer throw, the stone throw, the caber (a long, wooden pole) throw, and the strongman competition. Prefer less strenuous activities? Don’t miss the military marching bands, pancake breakfast, and Irish and Highland-style dances.

Long’s Peak Scottish-Irish Highland Festival

When: September 10-13, 2009
Where: Estes Park, Colorado
Web site: scotfest.com

The Keene Pumpkin Festival (New Hampshire)

Thousands of pumpkins make up the Keene Pumpkin Festival's Pumpkin Tower.

Every October, the city of Keene, New Hampshire, takes the tradition of pumpkin carving to the cutting edge. Visitors to the two-day Keene Pumpkin Festival will see 25,000 jack-o’-lanterns lit simultaneously in a one-of-a-kind family celebration. Friday night is “Community Night,” when pumpkins are dropped off and people enjoy hayrides, music, and, of course, food. On Saturday, families participating in pie-eating and seed-spitting competitions, face painting, a costume parade, and more, while volunteers prepare for the main event. After nightfall, the jack-o-lanterns are lit, a true sight to behold.

Keene Pumpkin Festival

When: October 16-17, 2009
Where: Keene, New Hampshire
Web site: pumpkinfestival.com

Oktoberfest (across the country)

Oktoberfest began in 1810 in Munich, Germany. The Munich event is now the world's largest fair, with more than 6 million attendees annually.

While not be the most important German-American contribution to society, Oktoberfest is arguably the coolest. Where else is donning lederhosen and listening to Polka socially acceptable? Bratwurst, dancing, and, of course, beer are the stars of the festivities from coast to coast, with each city and town’s Oktoberfest offering a unique twist.

For 30 years, the town of Helen, Georgia—modeled after a traditional German village, has hosted an Oktoberfest that lasts for more than a month and is world-renowned. According to the festival’s Web site, it’s the longest-running Oktoberfest in the United States.

Helen Oktoberfest

When: September 10-27 (Thursday-Sunday); October 1-November 1 (Daily)
Where: Helen, Georgia
Web site: helenchamber.com

The beer flows at the La Crosse Oktoberfest.

Although “La Crosse” is a French term, this Wisconsin town goes the extra mile when throwing the German Festival. An annual tradition since 1961, the title Oktoberfest, U.S.A.® is a registered trademark of La Crosse.

La Crosse Oktoberfest

When: September 25-October 3, 2009
Where: La Crosse, Wisconsin
Web site: oktoberfestusa.com

Bands from the United States and Germany play in Leavenworth, Washington’s Oktoberfest every year, and, in accordance with Bavarian tradition, the city’s mayor taps the first keg. In nearby Fremont, Washington, more than 35 microbreweries participate in an Oktoberfest suited for the finest beer-connoisseur.

Fremont Oktoberfest

When: September 18-20, 2009
Where: Fremont, Washington
Web site: fremontoktoberfest.com

Leavenworth Oktoberfest

When: October 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 2009
Where: Leavenworth, Washington
Web site: leavenworthoktoberfest.com

Alpenhorns, traditional horn instruments from the Alps, delight visitors at the Oktoberfest in Snowbird, Utah.

Snowbird, Utah, launched Oktoberfest some 30 odd years ago, when two men visiting the mountainous ski resort were reminded of their native alps. They busted out the lederhosen and accordions, and Oktoberfest has remained a tradition ever since.

Snowbird Oktoberfest

When: August 22, 23, 29, 30; September 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27; October 3, 4, 10, 11, 2009
Where: Snowbird, Utah
Web site: snowbird.com/events/concertsnfestivals/oktoberfest.html

Of course, the great thing about Oktoberfest is its widespread popularity, so the best place to celebrate might be in a town near you.

2009 Fall Festivals The Saturday Evening Post

Anyone with a green thumb knows that mulching your beds is one of the best ways to ensure a healthy garden. An eco-friendly (and dollar-savvy) way to do so is to mulch with autumn leaves such as oak and maple.

First, rake up fallen leaves, making sure they are free of pests and disease. Then, if possible, run over them with a lawn mower before adding them to your garden in a 2- to 3-inch layer. This helps speed up decomposition and lets water and organic matter reach the soil below the mulch.

If you can’t shred your leaves first, just spread them around (not on top of) the perennials in your garden. They will break down over time, gradually delivering vital nutrients to your soil.

End-of-Season Garden To-Do’s

•   Release your inner artist. Create a rough sketch of your garden beds and landscape before plants go dormant. You can then refer to the drawing months later when planning next year’s garden. At a glance, it’ll remind you of plants that you want to replace and available open space.

•   Look for end-of-season sales. Browse the clearance aisle at your local garden center and stock up on supplies such as garden tools and containers.

•   Take care of your containers. Clean and neatly store containers so they’re ready for next season.

•   Forgo the fertilizer. It’s time for plants to slow their growth before winter sets in, so don’t encourage them with fertilizers.

•   Let’s split! Fall is a good time to divide and transplant any overgrown spring- or early summer-blooming perennials. Just be sure to prepare the new planting area first.

Q: What Is “Green Manure”?

A: Usually planted in fall, fast-growing green manure crops provide protection against soil erosion over the winter months and add organic matter that improves fertility.

“Green manure crops, with their deep root systems, bring up buried trace elements and hold them in their structure, then release them after the mature plants are tilled under and begin to decompose,” explains vegetable expert Glen O. Seibert (“The GreenMan”). “Legumes are often selected as cover crops because of their ability to fix nitrogen from the air and return it to the soil.”

Casting 101

•   Use a spin cast outfit because it is the easiest to learn.

•   Set up your line with weight or a practice plug.

•   Face the target area with your body turned at a slight angle, about a quarter turn.

•   Aim the rod tip toward the target, about level with your eyes.

•   Press and hold down the reel’s release button.

•  Swiftly and smoothly, bend your arm at the elbow,raising your hand with the rod until it almost reaches eye level.

•  When the rod is almost straight up and down, move your forearm forward with a slight wrist movement.

•  Gently sweep the rod forward, causing the rod to bend with the motion.

•  As the rod moves in front of you, reaching eye level, about the 10 o’clock position, release your thumb from the button. The bend in the rod casts the bobber and bait out.

You have just made a cast!

Fried Fish in Five Steps

Fried Fish
Illustrated by Niff Nicholls

1. Fillet fish, picking out bones and removing skin.

2. Rinse fillets with cool water, then pat dry with paper towel.Season with salt and pepper and dip into cornmeal or flour-based batter.

3. Season with salt and pepper and clip into cornmeal or flour-based batter.

4. Drop into smoking hot oil (about 385 F) and cook until golden. Peanut, safflower, corn, and vegetable oils are all suitable choices.

5. Remove and drain on paper towels. Season with salt if desired.

Notes from the Field The Saturday Evening Post