This years elderberries

[Arne]

Nice plump berries this year. The heads filled out well even after being hailed. Thought we lost them then for sure. Been watching them, ready to be picked in the next day or so. High winds, heavy rain, guess I get to wait til next year now. Must of been about time to pick them, most of the berries are gone. Not enough left for a batch of wine. Glad they are not my favorite berry. Oh well, bout time to get the cherrys out of the freezer. Sounds like I am going to be able to get a bunch of pears this year. Pear wine is better anyway. Hope they stayed on the trees, but they are a ways away. Good luck to all of you finding fruit this year. Arne.

 

[ffemt128]

Birds got to my normal locations that I've been picking from. I did manage 108 lbs in 2 days of picking from a new location. The clusters were tight and the berries were 3/16 in diameter. Can't wait til it gets a little colder and I can break out the steamer. Need a chilly fall day for that so the house doesn't get to toasty...

 

[knifemaker]

They're pretty sporadic in this area too Arne, some have already dropped, some are still red, some still green, and I've even some that still have blossoms. So I shouldn't have any excuses for missing them this year if I keep checking my picking areas often. A lot of my best patches were totally destroyed by hail last year and the plants are still recovering. My 2012 elderberry is really coming around, and I need to guard it with my life.