Apple Day is 21 October and it’s a chance to pay tribute to one of the best-loved fruits of this land. But why not use apples to enrich another festival? Carving pumpkins is an October delight, but scary apples are an innovative twist on a halloween tradition.
Making apple monsters
- Collect the twigs, leaves and anything else you can find in the garden.
- Armed with these and a pile of windfall apples use pliers, scissors, bamboo skewers and more to make holes and dig out gaping mouths.
- Use florist’s wire for a few more intriguing designs.
- On a sheltered shelf outside, these monsters will survive for weeks and become more and more ghoulish with their decay.
© Andrew Montgomery
Creating apple bird feeders
© Andrew Montgomery
Garden designer Arne Maynard has used this technique before, which is essentially hanging a perfect string of apples from pleached trees. Add twigs between the apples to give the birds a place to perch while feasting.
Make a hole through the centre of the apple first (an awl is a useful tool for this), then string them together with a knot and a twig between each one.
Discover more traditions and events happening around Apple Day 2020 and read more on pumpkins here.
