Hedgeapple Happiness

  I was yard-sale-ing this past weekend and saw a bunch of these in the road...so I immediately stopped and gathered a Wal-Mart bag full of them.  I love the chartreuse green color!  I know my sister and sister-in-law thought I was crazy but I planned to do something decorative on my back entry (of course).

 


I tell you, a gardener never stops learning about things does he/she?  I have heard of "hedgeapples" all my life but never really knew what they were all about.  Heck until I did an internet search I thought they grew on vines (they grow on trees).  Their real name is Osage orange.  Apparently they were widely planted in rows as an impenetrable cattle fence before the advent of barbed wire.    They are also believed to have bug-repellent properties.  This blog has a very interesting post if you'd like to know more:  http://www.walterreeves.com/landscaping/osage-orange-uses/

I just think they are a wonderful (free) fall decoration!