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Thursday, October 20, 2011

Folklore and Fancy


One thing I look forward to in the fall is collecting hedge apples in the woods. The brilliant chartreuse color looks like something found only in a fairyland. Hedge apples are the fruit of the Osage Orange Tree. The large grapefruit sized inedible fruit has been placed in households for ages. Folklore touts the hedge apple as a holistic way to ward off spiders and creepy crawlers through the early winter months. The Hedge apple's average lifespan is about 3 months when gathered fresh off the tree. Even though they lose their scent after a few weeks fresh ones smell like oranges and pine.

1 comment:

Paula said...

Oh, I didnt know this at all! Have to look for those hedge apples then!