Tracking Elderflower Experiment

[zazen999]

Zazen did you want us to spot the first flower or the tree/ bush in full bloom? If it is the former we are too late already.

I think as we've missed the first open flowers; we should go for 'bush in full bloom'.

[Liza]

OK, in bud in Oxfordshire, got my sugar, white wine vinegar and buckets at the ready !

[rana]

At the weekend I did a round trip from the S. coast to Northamptonshire and was particularly interested in whether the elder had opened yet. I saw none in flower.

[Brengirl]

I am very much south and as yet have seen none. Mind you that is by just driving past. I will make a closer inspection of the tree just down the road and report back.

[sarraceniac]

Most of my supply of elders has been vandalised...............by the local council.

My local common has just been 'developed' into a lovely organised park where there is no room for elders, crab apples, wild roses, hawthorn etc. They have been dug up and replaced with more 'civilised' bushes. The local residents were neither consulted nor asked for ideas. Otherwise I'd have given them some advice.

[zazen999]

Is High Wycombe south enough? I have a bucket of elderflower champagne on the go in the Kitchen! Picked the elderflowers Saturday (at my local ASDA funilly enough!)

Looks like you have a pocket of elderflower microclimate!!!

Are you 100% sure it's elderflower????

I'm worried that you've got a different flower now.

[Alison]

Honestly there is tonnes of it out round here - there's other stuff too but noticed a largish tree next to our work carpark the other day so have brought a bucket and snippers in today to harvest some heads.

[Plot10]

Just noticed that the tree outside our bathroom window at work is in full bloom. I've never even noticed it before.

It is in an enclosed courtyard bit and it has been scorchio the last couple of days though!

[maytreefrannie]

Darn it - I was going to lop it all down at the weekend - it's a PITA!

Glutton4 - I think I've heard some old sayings about cutting back the elder tree - ideally, leave it alone but if it's really necessary, I believe one is meant to apologise / ask pardon as you cut it back.

Anyone else heard that?

[rustylady]

No flowers here yet - small bud clusters showing on the one in the garden, but I reckon it will be a while yet.

[Alison]

Was one of the last out of work yesterday so wasn't questioned as to why I'd climbed over the armco barrier at the back of our carpark and was filling a cotton bag with elderflowers. I've very surprised that it's not out in a lot of the country as it's flowering all over the place here and some of it has already started to spoil. I picked the 15 heads I wanted and managed to chose ones which were still partially in bud as I understand they taste the best now just need to hope that it ferments nicely and makes me some nice champagne following the recipe on HFW's site.

[Jelliebabe]

I'm Definately going to take a picture... Am going to ASDA tonight! Bet you I've made a brew out of something entirely different! Tastes okay though!

[binley100]

Ours at the lottie is in bud , but its in the shade.

[taff]

Some are just coming into flower now. Will post apic tomorrow.

[Jelliebabe]

Here we are (I hope I've figured out how to do this properly!) I have taken a pic of the flower and the bush with a car for perspective! Do I win a prize for the first bush in bloom? Hopefully you can all confirm I have made Elderflower champagne (now fizzing a bit!)