October 25, 2011

  • What Is It?

    Fallen from this nuisance tree.

    Very common in Iowa. These balls when placed inside are reputed to keep crickets from entering your home. But I have had no reason to try them....so far.

Comments (38)

  • I know. They're supposed to keep spiders away too. I wish I had some. We occasionally see them at our farmers' market but not often.

  • DARN!!!!   My comment didn't stick!!!!    They're Osage Hedge Balls.   Why have you been taking pictures behind my pond.   There are Zillions of them back there.   Wonder if they'd keep away, Halloween Beetles!?!??   They began coming into my garage yesterday, between the storm and inside doors!!!   Stinkin' nasty bugs!!!   Someone told me last week, that they knew someone who put them in their basement to keep down spiders.   I hadn't heard that one......Water bugs and roaches, yes, but not spiders.

  • They also are called Hedge Apples.-- It has been a very long time ago, but I believe Dad always tried to keep the cows away from them, because if they ate them it would make them sick..  Didn't know they could be used to keep 'bugs' away.

  • @GrannyHummingbird - 
    @ata_grandma -  Interesting, I'd only heard their use to repel crickets. I just might go pick some up to test on spiders since this fall I've been seeing spiders inside the house.

  • @SewWorthIt - Never heard that about cattle eating them. Have heard that acorns can make cattle ill.

  • i've forgotten what we called them ... crabapples? horseapples? mutants for sure! haha

  • they are so sticky,too

    I used them one year for decoration in the house but not inside.

    horse apples is what i call them

  • They look like brains, eww.

  • @oxlorixo - LOL

  • Bois d arc!  We call them 'bo-dark' apples.  They were planted extensively in wind-rows.  Good one, friend.  Peace

  • Growing up in Kansas, we called them hedge apples. The locals said not to let my horses eat them, or it would make them crazy. Have no idea if this was true, but I sure worked hard picking those hedge apples off the ground and throwing them over the fence.

  • Hedge apples here and if the cows and horses eat them they can get stuck in throats and stomachs and kill them. They are supposedly good for all sorts of insect control. Don't remember if you have to cut them in two or not. Wil is a believer in them. I believe the trees they come from make great fence posts which might account for the name HEDGE,

  • An interesting post, with all the comments -- I could use one of those here, although I've never seen them, to keep the crickets out!

  • cool. i guess it wouldnt hurt to see if they do what everyone up there ^^ says they do for the bugs.

    in the Japanese culture, it is considered good luck to have crickets in ones house. they would keep one in a cage in their house.

  • I was gonna say the same, they do look like brains! lol

  • Yes, I do remember them.

  • @windupherskirt -  We call them hedge balls here. As TheSunnyC said the tree we call hedge tree. They make great fence post that can last 50 years and as she said they can kill a horse or cow. Thanks for your comment.

  • @shellisland -  Bo d arc apples that is new to me. thanks for your comment.

  • @beauty_is_truths_smile - 
    @Dominie - Thanks for your comments.

  • @TheSunnyC - I agree with you. Thank you for the comment.

  • We always called them Osage Oranges. My father made me a wonderful cutting board from Osage Orange wood which is extremely hard. It's a beautiful cutting board.

  • @Babyboomerjill - they can be very sticky but if they'd keep insects away it'd be worth the try.

  • @ColeenSr - Osage Oranges, Fritz said he's heard that but is not sure it is this same wood. He said hedge tree wood is yellow and very pretty so it just might be the same wood. He says the fence post lasts for 50 years, sounds like the same wood to me as your cutting board is. Thanks for the comment and the info.

  • @slmret - @buddy71 - If they would just keep spiders out of the house I'd like that but we need all the luck we can get around here so I'd like to keep the crickets that may wander in. Thanks for your comments.

  • We had them in Ohio, but I don't think I've seen them in Delaware. We called them "hedge apples," if I recall correctly, and I NEVER heard about them being useful for repellant -- though I am certain I would run right out and get some if they were available -- what with all the Arachnophobia and Orthopterophobia (that word, I've been told, is fear of crickets, grasshoppers, etc.) going on around this house. I have heard the whole thing, too, about how dangerous they are to large livestock. Don't think a cricket would choke on one -- so it must be something different that repels the little things-- which causes me to think there has to be something toxic in the "apple" itself. The trees really are a dreadfully messy tree. My husband has never coveted one!

  • @Buckeyegirlie - This hedge tree is on the other side of our boundary fence. Fritz often threatens to cut it down. I'm impressed by those big word phobias. If I could pronounce them I'd make a point of using them LOL Thanks for you nice comment BEG.

  • @Lucy_or_Ethel - bugs aren't bad this year at all with the draught.

  • Now that is good to know.

  • We always called them Osage oranges too. I never heard that they worked to keep crickets out of the house...

  • What is curious is" Bois d'arc" is a french name that means "wood for bow ."
    You teach us with this tree and its balls of seeds of flowers .

    Love
    Michel

  • @fauquet - Interesting. The wood is very strong and very pretty yellow so would no doubt make bows. I've learned much from this entry. Thank you for the information and comment.

  • @murisopsis - Often these old wives' tales have some truth in them.
    @Grannys_Place - thank you for your comment. Hope you are doing okay.

  • Interesting! I'd never heard of them! I'd like to try one!
    HUGS!

  • @AdamsWomanFell - You could have all you want if you were here. Thanks for the comment.

  • I have a whole bunch down by the pond. They have sticky juice like pine tar, sort of. I like the smell of them. That might be what's supposed to keep bugs out. I tried it once but I couldn't really tell if it worked. There were still spiders around. I'm inviting you and atagrandma to come on over and get some if you want some. There's been so much going on around our neighborhood I think maybe I should bring a bushel or so inside to use against burglars. Might keep them away too! Have a great day.

  • @mcbery - Might not be cost effective to drive over and get some from you since I have so many here but thanks anyway LOL If all else fails you could throw them at the burglars! Have a good day!

  • I always called them horse apples too....we don't have them in georgia but I may plant some if they do all this insect repelling - but if you want to get rid of spiders just put out some eucalyptus!

  • They look like little brains!

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