Following a fine morning at the allotment it was dry and sunny for just long enough after lunch to go for a walk at Madron where Elder bushes grace the pretty path to the Holy Well.
We picked them carefuly into a wicker basket - not forgetting to repectfully ask permission of the Elder Mother as you should whenever you take anything from her. She is Venus and this is a true herb of beauty and love.
The rest of the weekend was a complete washout as far as the weather was concerned so it was no hardship to spend time indoors, stripping the florets to make ointment. These were packed into Almond oil and set to infuse for hours in a barely warm oven. It took three strainings before the oil was clear and ready to be thickened with gently melted beeswax. I've only made one pot so far as an experiment but it seems to be a success, smelling amazing and feeling very gentle and soothing. It is used for burns, scalds, sunburn, chapped hands and chilblains (seems chilblains are going to be a very real probability in this house!). We are really hoping that it is effective against excema (Mr Leo) and dermatitis (me) as we spend a small fortune every year on very good but expensive chemical free skin creams. This stuff is nice enough to use as a face cream so I'm looking forward to further experiments. The honeysuckle is just there to look nice - we used the rest of the Elderflowers to make champagne!
great photos, I tried homemade elderflower juice the other day at a transition town meeting, was really nice!
ReplyDeleteI just wrote a comment and went away then realised, I didn't wait for the word verification. :-(
ReplyDeleteSo lets try again!
Wonderful photos and I found it really interesting reading what you made with the elderflower (and it's association with venus.)
We have elderflower in our garden and I was only thinking yesterday how beautiful it was.
Lovely post!
Hi Sy, I'm not sure if my elderflower champagne is going to ferment - it was so cold at the weekend when I made it. My last kitchen, though quite efficient, was too small to be very creative in but now I'm enjoying more space I'm rediscovering old pleasures!
ReplyDeleteSusannah blogger is becoming more cantankerous by the day! I used to have Elders in my garden too. If we are able to put down roots here ourselves I will plant them again. Every year when I smell the first elderflower I am transported back in time to a past kitchen. I'm wearing a particular long grey, soft cotton skirt, it's a hot day and I can feel the coldness of quarry tiles under my bare feet. Isn't the sense of smell incredibly evocative?