October's colour challenge, set by Jude at Travel Words, is Orange: a colour which is often thought to symbolise joy, warmth and creativity. As a teacher who has spent much of my working life in primary schools, I associate it closely with Autumn - harvest, halloween, and happy pumpkin-esque decorations!

Orange brightens Halloween ready, worty dark green gourds that have raced across our borders this summer!..

A drunken wasp enjoying October's windfall 'cider': perfectly packaged in its easy to open, warm orange skin!

Happy Orange Blooms

... Bringing fiery warmth and bright joy to the early autumn borders.


Oranges and other edibles!

Orange gerbera, like sunflowers, are such happy flowers; perfect for an autumn tea tray!

Orange & windfall chutney, and Apple & dried apricot jam both have wonderful deep orange colours.

Homegrown carrots seem more orange than shop bought ones - just as they're more tasty!

Homemade Chocolate dipped candied orange makes special christmas treats & pick'n mix chillies include fiery oranges...


Orange wings, feathers, fungi & milk bar

Comma butterfly (anglewing genus) stunning orange & mahogony notched wings
Geraldine, one of our Hybrid girls with glossy orange feathers
George, born on st georges day, orphaned, with his orange milk bar!

Local oranges!

One of our local walks passes through a fascinating farmer's yard. He has a collection of ex-forces helicopters which he & his friends are restoring painstakingly... bright yellow and orange rescue models amongst them.

The funky orange coffee van is a popular draw at Horsham's twice weekly market: it also seems to provide a rescue service to coffee addicts!


Orange ties

Living with a sailor, whenever a knatty knot is needed, we have the perfect piece of rope, string or chord... Oscars fav is an old orange rope. I reckon its vintage status means it is packed with smells as well as knotty texture... and its a great 'vintage' orange colour!


For more 'oranges' of every type, head over to Jude's challenge on 'Travel Words'.