and the berries came and now the heads are bending towards the earth they are so loaded. I was going to try my hand at elderberry wine, but I didn't have any of the equipment and it would be about a $50 investment. I really grew them because I understand that cedar wax wings love to eat them. Last year the crows feasted for days, but this year they haven't shown an interest.

But what are you doing with yours?

The birds always get them before they ripen.

and planted them as a privacy fence. They are really beautiful most of the year. Winter is pretty straggly.

Cut the whole ripe purple berry blooms off with scissors and let them drop into a bucket, stems and all. Take full buckets into the kitchen. Over a bowl, grab a table fork with four tines. Pull the stem of the berry blooms through the fork tines. The ripe berries will separate into the bowl. Dispose of vacant stems. Repeat until all the berries are in the bowls and the stems are in the garbage. It will not take much time.

Elderberries are awesome. My mother knew where half the elderberry bushes were for miles. She would make elderberry preserves and (OMFG!) elderberry syrup. The latter was incredible on aebelskivers.

Danish pancake balls. Here:



There's lots of cardamom in those. Makes them extra Yummy! With the elderberry syrup, they're like heaven. (Pic probably shows lingonberries.)