Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Osage-Oranges and Other Stuff

Fruit of the Osage Orange Tree, the Hedge Apple. Folklore provides numerous claims that hedge apples are repellent to insects and spiders. The fruit of the osage-orange has been placed in households for ages. Does it work? Depends on who you ask. Osage Orange trees are a magnet for every squirrel in the neighborhood.  They typically sit on the ground at the base of the tree or on a wide branch up in the tree to disassemble their prize, making a big mess in the process. Whitetail deer melt into their surroundings. A black Vulture about to partake in a dining experience.   A White-throat Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco and a Carolina Wren offer some entertainment. On a cold rainy December day a Red-shouldered Hawk tried to find some comfort on a perch in the woods.

Osage-Oranges... Lots more oranges than squirrels...

Osage-Oranges...
Grey Squirrel with a mouth full of Osage-Orange...
Grey Squirrel eating the inner seeds of an Osage-Orange...
Three Whitetail Doe catch my drift...

Whitetail Doe...
A Black Vulture, stepping up to the road kill...
A White-throat Sparrow...

A Dark-eyed Junco...
A Carolina Wren...

A Carolina Wren...
The backside of the Red-shouldered Hawk...
A dripping wet Red-shouldered Hawk...

A Red-shouldered Hawk...

6 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

enjoyed all of these very much! the squirrel with the apple is too funny! we call 'em bois d'arc apples here. i guess it's the louisiana/french influence to this part of East Texas. :)

TexWisGirl said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Julie G. said...

Wonderful post filled with terrific images! We have lots of Osage Orange Trees on our country road. The fruits are so very large and interesting. Your photos of the squirrel delighting in the fruit are a hoot. Exquisite junco image and the Carolina Wrens shots are stunning. Always a pleasure to visit your blog!

grammie g said...

Hi Larry...yes I know I'm in the rears again...but I am here ; }
Those are surely strange looking fruit, but I don't think the squirrel much cares ..he looks pretty content!
Very nice shot of the White Throat...they are so cute!
Grace

Anonymous said...

Great shots! I especially like the hawk.

Have a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year.

Joe said...

Great shots of the does.