Elderflowers?

Aless

I could not believe the OP when she said that elderflowers near her were in flowers but I can report that in the greater London area the elderflower have just started flowering. I know what elderflower are having made elderflower champagne before (and my neighbours have a bush/tree). I cannot believe they are so early!

jamsandwhich

floyd wrote: »

I would also recommend using plastic pop bottles as they give you a much earlier warning that you need to burp the bottles (release a little gas) as you can feel them becoming rigid. I have read far too many accounts of people finding glass embedded in their kitchen ceilings and shed doors to ever consider using glass bottles of any description. Due to the natural variations in yeast it can be unpredictable, even the swing top brewers bottles and champagne bottles can explode so stick to plastic

I have a batch on the go now that I made using flowers from last year that I kept in a polythene bag in the freezer, needed a little more steeping time in the bucket but seems to be plopping away happily outside.

Make sure you use the newer HFW recipe as there is an older one doing the rounds on the internet that has far too much sugar in it which increases your chances of redecorating your entire house with fizz. This is the correct ratio with 700g sugar http://www.channel4.com/4food/recipes/chefs/hugh-fearnley-whittingstall/elderflower-champagne-recipe#comments-top

Thanks for this - I was just about to start searching as I used the HFW recipe last year and althoug it was lovely I did indeed redcorate the kitchen including floor, ceiling, appliances, light fittings and in some cases it managed to get up/down and inside wall and floor cupboards:rotfl:. It's OK though cos I just drank the champers and didn't really care anymore!!

None ready to open in the Teesside area - buds on ours are still quite tightly shut so I would think another 2 weeks to go.

Folko_Ono

Hello! I live in north London and think we have an elderflower plant in bloom in the garden. It's actually the neighbour's, but they've cut it down on their side to get more light and have asked us to do the same on ours, so if it is elderflower then I'd like to get the benefit before we do!

Here's a picture (taken on my phone, sorry for the rubbish quality!):

img861.imageshack.us/img861/7983/elderflower.jpg

It smells like elderflower, although it's not particularly strong yet as it must've only gone into bloom at the weekend. Can anyone positively identify it? Thanks!

EDIT: Apologies if it's against the rules for me to post a link - please remove it if it is. It's just a photo of a plant!

DaftyDuck

The elderflower trees in my garden are flowering away - not in full bloom, but they are out. North Kent coast; can see the Essex coast as well from my window (well, see the lights at night, at least), so the OP might well have some out.

floyd

Folko_Ono wrote: »

Hello! I live in north London and think we have an elderflower plant in bloom in the garden. It's actually the neighbour's, but they've cut it down on their side to get more light and have asked us to do the same on ours, so if it is elderflower then I'd like to get the benefit before we do!

Here's a picture (taken on my phone, sorry for the rubbish quality!):

img861.imageshack.us/img861/7983/elderflower.jpg

It smells like elderflower, although it's not particularly strong yet as it must've only gone into bloom at the weekend. Can anyone positively identify it? Thanks!

EDIT: Apologies if it's against the rules for me to post a link - please remove it if it is. It's just a photo of a plant!

Its a little difficult to see from your picture but how are the leaves spaced on the branches? Usually elderflower will have 2 or 3 opposing pairs and a single one at the end (see pic) yours look to be individually spaced on the stem but it could be just the picture is misleading



I also cant see the flowers clearly, do they have the multiple stamen seen in elderflowers (see below)



There are still very few buds in both North West and North Wales but I will update as they appear if it helps others

Sambucus_Nigra

Folko_Ono wrote: »

Hello! I live in north London and think we have an elderflower plant in bloom in the garden. It's actually the neighbour's, but they've cut it down on their side to get more light and have asked us to do the same on ours, so if it is elderflower then I'd like to get the benefit before we do!

Here's a picture (taken on my phone, sorry for the rubbish quality!):

img861.imageshack.us/img861/7983/elderflower.jpg

It smells like elderflower, although it's not particularly strong yet as it must've only gone into bloom at the weekend. Can anyone positively identify it? Thanks!

EDIT: Apologies if it's against the rules for me to post a link - please remove it if it is. It's just a photo of a plant!

I'm not convinced that IS elder.....have a look at the flowers - and take a pic of them and show those.....it's the leaves on yours, they look wrong....sorry

I've been waiting for ages for the Elders round here to be in flower and today - they were. Happy days.

serena

Folko 1,

your picture looks awfully like pyracantha - are there big thorns on it?

Elder in bud here in Kent, but not out yet. Plenty of rowan though.

gardenroute

+ 1 for pyracantha. You can see one of the thorns on the typically dark stem. Elder flowers are much larger, and later.

floyd

Just a quick update, the elderflowers are starting to come out near me (North West England). Not many, on a large 20 foot high specimen there were maybe 8-10 heads in bloom so perhaps at the weekend I will see if they are ready to go.

lostinrates

I noticed them out today too. By the looks of them some have been in bloom for a couple of days. Still plenty not open, so no need to panic, but its time to get picking!