The Color Orange

Okay Gary, here ya go!

Orange might mean, might represent, might bring, might suggest, joy, warmth, heat, sunshine, enthusiasm, creativity, success, encouragement, change, determination, health, stimulation, happiness, fun, enjoyment, balance, sexuality, freedom, expression, and fascination.

Lincoln National Forest is an area of 1.1 million acres. A forest region including Ruidoso Valley, Cloudcroft and Carlsbad. Located throughout the southern Rocky Mountains of New Mexico. Near and dear to my heart.

Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus). A species of bracket fungus found in Europe and eastern North America. It grows on standing, or fallen, dying oak trees.

Orange Day-lily (Hemerocallis fulva). Native to Asia. A plant that grew along the road, out in the country (or so it seemed back then) leading to a little house in Sellersville, Pennsylvania, where my, dear to me, Aunt, Uncle and three cousins lived. A house where I would spend time each summer, learning to create, learning about nature, learning how special cousins can be.

And the ultimate orange object (with perhaps the exception of an orange car). A pumpkin. And this pumpkin has something that is always needed on a pumpkin. A handle. Also known as a stem. And if that stem is twisted, all the better.

Orange. A magnificent color. The brighter the better.

Chicken of the Woods

Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus). A species of bracket fungus found in Europe, North America east of the Rocky Mountains, and parts of Asia.

Primarily found on oak, but also cherry, beech, chestnut and sometimes on conifers. These trees found with Chicken of the Woods growing on them are often dead or dying but the fungus is sometimes found on living trees as well. When the host tree contains toxins, as is sometimes the case, those toxins will be absorbed into that fungus making that fungus also toxic.

So many beautiful mushrooms. So many remarkable fungi. Such amazing colors right here on my mountain. So many marvelous things to be discovered.

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