ALERT!!!
To all the keen foragers and elderflower flavour enthusiasts, I spotted my first open heads of elderflower today! (in bristol area, so further north may be delayed).
I would say in a week or two they will start to come into good bloom, enough to collect easily, and remember, always collect in the morning when they are freshly opened to they have the most nectar (otherwise the insects will take their fill).
and remember to leave plenty to allow for healthy continuation of the plant and enough for the latter elderberry production!
The flowers are easily picked from the green stems using a fork (dont inlcude any green as it tastes horrible and contains cyanide (well a cyanide-inducing glycoside which when broken down produces cyanide).
(admin, if this is best suited in a different thread, feel free to move)
To all the keen foragers and elderflower flavour enthusiasts, I spotted my first open heads of elderflower today! (in bristol area, so further north may be delayed).
I would say in a week or two they will start to come into good bloom, enough to collect easily, and remember, always collect in the morning when they are freshly opened to they have the most nectar (otherwise the insects will take their fill).
and remember to leave plenty to allow for healthy continuation of the plant and enough for the latter elderberry production!
The flowers are easily picked from the green stems using a fork (dont inlcude any green as it tastes horrible and contains cyanide (well a cyanide-inducing glycoside which when broken down produces cyanide).
(admin, if this is best suited in a different thread, feel free to move)
