Orange... naturally going on into the autumn...

Gerber Daisies are Preppy-pretty flowers for late summer into autumn...

Orange Lantana and Monarch butterflies are bright spots to my path...

To be honest, the color hue of orange is not one of my favorites. It is bright, bold and when used in er, "interesting ways" quite garishly gaudy at times. Yes, it nicely graces the color change of tree leaves however it also IS the theme color of Halloween which, aside from real pumpkins, gourds and candy corn, I (yes, shockingly a Halloween-baby) don't really get into. Unless it an Hermes' gift box but of course! Though I do occassionally infuse a bright, island-tropical flash of orange hue into my late spring and summer wardrobe once in awhile.

However... in these still-hot and humid Lowcountry SC days of early September, it can be a perfectly delightful, perfectly Preppy color burst to have out and about in one's garden. Orange flowers can serve as a transition from late summer into the Indian Summer we seem to be having around these islands here. In the midst of heat, orange in the garden is a harbinger of cooler times to come.

This morning I enjoyed watching a bunch of butterflies circling around both the front porch and side walkway of our in-town cottage. The Monarchs especially seemed to dance throughout the lantana in a joyful fluttering of pure bliss. Their orange wings adding to the tapestry of color.

Here's to the orange flowers and butterflies out there among us announcing that autumn is yes indeed on its slow but sure way....