I braved a walk down the fairly steep bank to the water's edge this afternoon to see the flowers.
They are commonly referred to as Joe-Pye weeds. I have been able to identify wild weeds that produce flowers throughout the years as my mother had taught me as a child.
In the years past, we always made elderberry jelly, syrup and pie. We've made dandelion wine but not elderberry wine. I wonder why? I recently came across a recipe that I used in the past. The trick was to use real lemon juice and NOT the "Real Lemon" that the grocery stores carry. We also made mint jelly from leaves we would pick down by the stream nearby. If it wasn't so much work for me now, I'd still be in the kitchen making big messes for enjoyment by all. While going through a box of recipes I found this one for both that was used in the 70's. I even remember adding a pat of butter at the end to make the skimming process easier! (That tip isn't in the recipe given.) We had a "special old pot with a spout" for melting the paraffin which was washed, and kept for reuse the next year after the jelly was gone. My brother is making mint jelly at his place as I write. Perhaps you'd like to try it?
Sometimes the elderberry bushes are difficult to locate after the berries are ripe. These are in a wood nearby and by the lake's shore.
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