are these elderflowers?

[zanussi101]

Hi
Just found what i think might be an elder bush/tree in my garden. before start pickings to make champagne, can anyone let me know for sure if it is?
elderflowers??? on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
fingers crossed
thanks
xx

[SarzWix]

No, I don't think they are.
This is a quite good pic for ID purposes;
http://www.pastymuncher.co.uk/blog/w...derflowers.jpg

[shirlthegirl43]

I am not sure what you have growing in your garden but it isn't elder. Pretty though.

Here's an image of an elder tree in full flower...

http://my.telegraph.co.uk/VirtualCon...0515205454.jpg

[zanussi101]

bu**er! I was looking forward to that!
it is pretty though, especially as it's just in front of a huge purple rhododendron.
would like to know what it is though if anyone has any ideas.
xxx

[shirlthegirl43]

Are those the leaves that go with the flowers in the picture? The flowers look like buddleia to me (not a big flower person though so probably wrong) but the leaves don't match

[zanussi101]

yes those are the leaves.

[Flummery]

Looks a bit like pyracantha - firethorn. The flowers are followed by red (or yellow or orange depending on variety) berries that the birds just love.
By the way, before you use elderflowers give them a good sniffing. Some are lovely, some smell like a cross between a cat's toilet and a pickled ferret. You will be VERY disappointed if you use the nasty ones.

[shirlthegirl43]

Flum, I just gotta ask - how do you know what a pickled ferret smells like?

[SAFIA]

talking of elderberries ........ can you just eat them? or do you have to juice them? please excuse my ignorance but im sure when i was younger someone told me not to eat them thanks

[scarey55]

Elderberries are very sour and not nice to eat - to drink though, they are brilliant I make elderberry and blackberry wine and then use the pulp to make jam/jelly.

[Snadger]

I think elderberries are mildly poisonous before they are cooked?

[gojiberry]

Definitely not elderberry flower, as Flum said it looks like a firethorn. Should be a spectacular sight in autumn if it is. Don't know about elderberries being poisonous, I know that as a youngster we used to eat them straight from the tree, Mind you when I say eat, it was put some in mouth squash with tongue swallow liquid and spit bitter skins out. Also take note to smell flowers before using, STG43 you will know what a pickled ferret smells like when you smell the bad elderflowers.

Ian

[Flummery]

Flum, I just gotta ask - how do you know what a pickled ferret smells like?

I just have an over-active imagination Shirley - and no sense of proportion!

[Flummery]

I understand that they contain something that's mildly emmetic (sp?) when they are raw. You can add a slack handful to an apple pie with great results.

[Tam]

You can also make a beautiful cordial with the flowers. The berries certainly can't be poisonous to birds, as I always weed out numerous elderflower seedlings each year.