Preserving May Apples???

[Alicia L]

Turkey season is almost here, and my husband said I could try to mount my own turkey if I get one.  I have been thinking about the base for this turkey, and was wondering if there was any way you can preserve a few may apples to go along with the turkey for a woods scene.  I have purchased a handful of morel mushrooms, and I think the may apples would be neat to go along with it.  I didn't know if anyone would know where to get some, or some way to preserve some...

[Alicia L]

ttt

[Wildside]

I thought about trying to preserve some this spring.  If not I plan to work with trashfish on reproducing some.  He mkes some awsome watter lilys and other habitat.

[Alicia L]

I thought about trying the never say dye stuff, and maybe some kind of something to stiffen the upper part (leaf), and put a wire in the stem.  I have no idea if that would work.  Never have done any kind of plant preserving before...  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Wildside]

I have used Nature by designs - forever natural preservative owned by Larry Wardo.  I have had very good success with it and I have never heard anything good about the never say dye.  I dont have very high hopes for the May apples because I dont think they are strong enough.  But I am going to try.

[mk]

i think what your going to have to do is mix up plaster put a blob of it on the table then press the top side of the mayapple leaf onto the plaster then peel it off when its almost cured, then use chicago 501 latex and brush on the plaster mold.

[Lisa M]

Okay...curiosity piqued...what the heck is a May apple?  We've got grannysmith, golden delicious...red delicious...but many of those trees haven't even blossomed in May.  I'm guessing this isn't even an apple?  So what is it?

[Alicia L]

Okay, as I said, I have no experience whatsoever  ...What exactly is Chicago 501, and are you saying that I should try to mold a may apple leaf?  I guess I need a lot of help...

May apples are those green plants you see in the woods in the spring around the same time you find morel mushrooms.   Sometimes they have a little yellow sphere in the middle on top of the leaf the size of a (quarter?)  Correct me in my description if I am wrong, someone.  I have never closely looked at one in a long time, just want some in my turkey setup.  I have attached a picture.  Much better than me trying to describe it! 

[Lisa M]

OHHHHHHHHH those things!  I've seen them in catalogs.  We don't have them around here...morels that I've ever seen either.    We do get some big ole puff balls...and the one red topped white dotted fungi that grow like shelves/tiers on tree trunks. 

Anyways...thanks for explaining May Apples to me Alicia.    Didn't remember that's what they're called...do they taste like apples?  Weird name. 

[mk]

yeah i would try molding the leaf.  ask rick carter how he did the pumpkin leaves, im sure he molded them somehow

[Wildside]

Molding is the option I spoke of.  Same procedure and I think the same material Trashfish used.  Now I am really thinking about spring.

[Alicia L]

Could somebody with a little time on their hands explain to me how to go about molding the leaves for the may apples.  I have no idea even where to begin, as in what supplies I would need...besides the actual may apple, of course.

[Wildside]

MK stated a very simple approach.  This will give you a pretty good rubber plant that you can paint to the desired color.

Use plastic tubing for the stem with a wire and paint it also.

[Fishhunt223]

Okay...curiosity piqued...what the heck is a May apple?  We've got grannysmith, golden delicious...red delicious...but many of those trees haven't even blossomed in May.  I'm guessing this isn't even an apple?  So what is it?

When do your apples blossom?  I live in the "Apple Capitol of the World" and most of our apples blossom the first of may.  We even have a big huge festival called apple blossom on the first weekend in May. LOL
Travis

[Alicia L]

Where would I get the latex molding material?  Can I get it at a local hardware store or do I have to order it from a taxidermy supplier?