Is this bush an Elderflower?

[Laine21S]

Can someone advise please?
We have this popping over from next doors fence every year, the neighbour does hack it back ruthlessly, but before they do so this year I thought I would ask.

[zazen999]

Yes, it's an Elder alright.

[Ananke]

Most definately

Can't believe it's that time of year again, need to go picking soon.

[Laine21S]

Most definately

Can't believe it's that time of year again, need to go picking soon.

Now next question has to be, does anyone have any recommended recipes :-)

Laine

[Ananke]

Makes a lovely jam or jelly or an even better wine mixed with blackberries. What were you thinking of making?

[Laine21S]

Makes a lovely jam or jelly or an even better wine mixed with blackberries. What were you thinking of making?

I am thinking of jams, I have lots of blackberries growing, and I'm actually getting to them before the chickens do this year! I have been freezing them each day. Only one apple tree is producing a good amount, and hopefully some plums from my lovely man's dad.

Are Elderberries freezable, or does that spoil them?

Laine

[Ananke]

Yes, they freeze well. For jams I just use equal weight of sugar to fruit and for elderberries you would need to add some lemon juice or use jam sugar for pectin.

If you've never picked them before, a handy tip is to use a fork and run it through the stalks (like combing hair) makes it much quicker to strip

[roitelet]

Elderberry syrup brilliant for keeping colds at bay.

[Laine21S]

Yes, they freeze well. For jams I just use equal weight of sugar to fruit and for elderberries you would need to add some lemon juice or use jam sugar for pectin.

If you've never picked them before, a handy tip is to use a fork and run it through the stalks (like combing hair) makes it much quicker to strip

Thank you :-) I can see I am going to have some fun
Laine