Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Decorating With Hedge Apples

 These crazy 'apples' have always fascinated me and this year, I decided to add them to my fall decorations . . . after all . . . they were free, picked up by the side of the road in our town on a stretch of public property so you can't beat the price!  I did a little research on them and found they are actually called Osage Oranges.  They are not edible nor are they poisonous.  In reality, it seems they don't serve much of a purpose except as a delightful treat for squirrels. HOWEVER,
I found dozens and dozens of testimonials where people claim they completely eliminated spiders and other insects from their homes!  Most people put them in styrofoam containers and leave them around the basement, even after they've turned brown and soft and claim they never saw another spider in their homes!  I must admit, I'm going to try it as just posting the picture above made me squirm!
The other most common use for these is decorating with them and having an abundance of them, I put them just about everywhere including some on my front porch for the squirrels to enjoy.
In my bicycle on the wall . . .

In my 'nook' in the living room . . .

Yep, pretty much everywhere!

I also got a chance to use some of the spindles I picked up months ago at a junk yard for about 1.00 each.  I stapled some fall 'foliage' on them and added them to my nook display.

Here's a little secret . . . I don't REALLY think autumn is delicious (I'm a summer-lover!) but I love this quote so I printed and stamped this to go inside the frame in my nook.
Do YOU have Hedge Apples where you are and have you used them to decorate?
Linking to these parties this week . . .
The DIY Showoff   http://diyshowoff.com/
Marvelous Mondays http://www.jamscorner.com/
From My Front Porch to Yours http://frommyfrontporchtoyours.blogspot.com/
Under the Table and Dreaming http://www.bystephanielynn.com/
 











11 comments:

  1. I think we have them here in NC but I haven't seen any around. I love the bittersweet and it's abundant here! Guess what we had for dinner last night...Pancakes! heehee! Sweet hugs!

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  2. Une superbe idée si celle-ci élimine les araignées de la maison ! De plus je trouve ces fruits très originaux. Je n'en avais jamais vu auparavant.
    Merci pour l'ensemble de vos superbes photos.
    Gros bisous à vous

    Ps : tenez-nous au courant pour savoir si cela fonctionne avec les araignées!

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  3. Hi Lauren! I just saw this somewhere else and now I forgot. This is so cool. I have never seen these apples before. Cute Fall vignette they make. Have a great day Lauren!

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  4. Hi Lauren,
    I have never seen these before...very interesting texture. Love the color and they make great decorating pieces. You'll have to let us know if the spider thing works. I ❤autumn.

    Hugs and Kisses,
    ❤Ana

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  5. I have never heard of them or seen them,I'm all for anything that eliminates spiders! They sure look interesting in your fall grouping. I'm with you I don't like fall a matter of fact I always get a little melancholy in the fall, I hate when it get dark early!!

    Carol

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  6. Your decorating is always amazing!!! I have never seen or heard of those apples/oranges! They are creepy and pretty all at once! And you know how I am about squirrels! I LOVE them! We feed them corn every day. I even named them! So I'm glad to hear they will be having a treat!
    xxDaniella

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  7. We don't have hedge apples here. They do look pretty cool. It would be great if they kept spiders away. A blogger posted them last year and said they also grow in Pennsylvania.
    I'm missing summer too. It was in the low 30's this morning.



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  8. It is the first time that I am seeing Hedge Oranges. You have put them to good use. The decorations look lovely.

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  9. Well, aren't those unique!!! I've never seen anything like them! They sure do look pretty in your decorating and I'd be interested to know if they really DO get rid of spiders!

    Tania

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  10. Wow I've never heard of this before - I wonder if they are available at the grocery store? I'll be checking it out!

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  11. I love the look and color of these and they are everywhere here but, they are sticky. So I never use them. They look great! Thank you for joining Home Sweet Home!
    Sherry

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