HEDGE APPLES The Osage Orange or Hedge Apple is gaining popularity in decorating designs with its lime green color and texture. I especially like the fresh citrus scent. It is a natural air freshener and known to repel spiders. I tested the spider theory last fall by putting a dozen balls around the basement, and found very few cobwebs the following spring (see our previous post Remedies for Creepy Crawlies). It made a believer out of me. This fall I gathered a bushel of these apples to use in decorating and putting in the basement as a repellant. Hedge Apple trees are native to many states across the nation. There are plenty of websites, like eBay, where you can purchase them, and read people's praises about this weird fruit. If you are lucky enough to have access to a tree, gather a few Hedge Apples for your pantry. Pick apples as soon as they drop before they have a chance to blacken from laying on the ground (which is usually late October). For a recent corporate event, I added them to the centerpieces to give a little twist to fall decor. The room was filled with a pleasant fragrance. I love designing with a purpose beyond beauty. Add them to your holiday centerpieces with gourds or autumn leaves for a festive punch!
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