Tracking Elderflower Experiment

[FoxHillGardener]

Tree I pass on my way to the station just starting to come out

[OliverH]

Are these Elderflower ?

I think i've found two elderflower trees at work in the yard. I have never noticed them before until i read this post. i fancy making some champagne or cordial once in bloom.
Can anyone confirm if they are elderflower?
The first 3 photos are of one tree and the second 2 are of another.

[Glutton4...]

I'd say first tree, Yes, second tree, No.

No blossom round here yet.

[Guttata]

The second tree is not Elder, the first looks like it is.

TS as far as I know it's a tree. Though what defines a tree, a bush or a shrub?

[Jardiniere]

i have a book on trees and in it there is no mention of the elder at all....in the foreward or whatever it says that the book is only about trees and contains no info on bushes...so in my book (ha!) its a bush.....

[maytreefrannie]

Plenty of budding going on here but they've a way to go yet.

Tree Names Common and Botanical Types of Trees lists the elder / sambucus among the trees.

[rustylady]

I think i've found two elderflower trees at work in the yard. I have never noticed them before until i read this post. i fancy making some champagne or cordial once in bloom.
Can anyone confirm if they are elderflower?
The first 3 photos are of one tree and the second 2 are of another.

Second "tree" looks like pyracantha.

[Guttata]

There are three trees in a row on my way to town two are bursting out into flower one hasn't.

[sheena]

I'm keeping an eye out for my neighbour as he wants to brew some this year. I did it last year and well... I didn't go much on it to be honest.

Is it an acquired taste? Mine was fizzy as hell and tasted really bitter. Even the plastic bottles that I put them in expanded from the pressure (even tho I was releasing the gas every couple of days).

But not seen flowers around here yet, so should be soon for us.

[Flummery]

I'm keeping an eye out for my neighbour as he wants to brew some this year. I did it last year and well... I didn't go much on it to be honest.

Is it an acquired taste? Mine was fizzy as hell and tasted really bitter. Even the plastic bottles that I put them in expanded from the pressure (even tho I was releasing the gas every couple of days).

But not seen flowers around here yet, so should be soon for us.

You were making elderflower champagne rather than wine then? It shouldn't be bitter.

[sheena]

You were making elderflower champagne rather than wine then? It shouldn't be bitter.

That's what I thought Flum, maybe I didn't do it right?

Oh well, update on the Elder seen around here. Just got back from St Ives, Cambs and there is quite a few that are in flower, so looks like I'll be making the foraging trip by the weekend.

[zazen999]

YAY

First gallon of elderflower fizz is soaked and strained and bottled.

Here's my piccie of the flowers from Tuesday.

Note - there WEREN'T in Derbyshire, but in the Cotswolds.

[Jeanied]

Here is my local tree - taken last weekend but only just found the lead from the camera to the lappy.

[Jeanied]

OMG - now what happened there??

[zazen999]

Don't know.....

I do know that RHS classify Elder as a bush and a tree though....because I learnt 'what shrub/bush' and 'what tree' and used Elder for two answers thus just learning one set of proper names.