A few years ago, I planted elderberry at the house. They’re beautiful and they like their feet wet, so this spot is ideal for them. They’ve taken off tremendously and this is the first year that they are robust and vigorous.
Initially, my thought had been to have them here for the berries – to make syrup for the winter flu season. Elderberry syrup is ubiquitous in flu and cold tonics – especially for children because it’s sweet, and filled with vitamin C and other good stuff. From what I understand as well, in folk traditions, elder was planted as the “mother of a garden” one that took care of plants, and in medicine it was paired with other herbs to help guide them to where they were needed in the body.
As I have learned more, elder flowers also have great properties as diaphoretics, or sweat inducers to help break fevers. One of my favorite uses for elderflower though is to combine them with sugar, lemon, citric acid and water to create an elderflower syrup. There are some great recipes online – to make your own, though the season for making the syrup is nearly over as most of the blooms in this area have passed.
More over, as I have spent time with elder plants, I have grown to love their graceful form and their generous flowers. I feel better just breathing them in on a hot day, and I love the way the bracts (outer petals of the blossom) fall off and cover my eyelashes and face like fairy glitter after I do so.
