Douglas Justice's blog this month is called September in the Garden: Elderberries. They're a bit past their prime, but are still worth a look. As Douglas mentioned, Sambucus racemosa, red elder, had their last berries by June. I'm a bit confused about this, as the only ones on my list in this area (Woodland Garden?) are supposed to be S. racemosa 'Plumosa Aurea', and I don't think that's what this is. Here are blue elderberries, Sambucus nigra subsp. caerulea, in the Garry Oak Meadow and the same in the Woodland Garden. This is American elder, Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis, in the Carolinian Forest Garden, also with no berries. And European black elder, Sambucus nigra subsp. nigra, in the European Woodland. These plants look a bit young to have to carry off the "magnificent display" Douglas mentions, so maybe they're not the ones he has in mind. I would have called this a cute display. Here is the only elderberry I was aware of in the garden before today, Sambucus nigra f. laciniata, next to the Pavilion.
I see you typed "work" where you meant "worth". Apart from that I am glad to see you minding your elders. Yes, the 'Pumosa Aurea' shown don't have the more deeply cut leaves of that cultivar.
Thanks, Ron. I've fixed that. And yes, now that I'm aging, I can see how much the elders have to offer.
At this time of the year many native elders have gone yellow, due presumably to lack of irrigation or other issues. So we can't even be sure the first set shown here is even a yellow form, unless you know otherwise.
