Growing Gardens

with Julia Hancock

Sweet Summer Wine

I'm not a home brewer or wine-maker but as I gaze upon my elderberry tree, laden with blossoms and fruit, I am inspired to give it a go.

Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) is a European soft-wooded tree that grows so well here it can sometimes become a pest. However, if you can keep an eye on it elderberry is worth having in the garden because it is attractive and prolific.

A small plant can be purchased in the herb section of garden centres and nurseries for a couple of dollars. Plant it in an area which receives full sun, digging it into soil which has been improved with the addition of compost and manure. It will grow incredibly quickly and should start producing fruit within two years, maybe less if the conditions are to its liking.

The following recipe is so easy I think even I could give it a go.

Elderflower Champagne

4 litres boiling water

2.5 cups sugar

7 heads of elderflowers

2 sliced lemons

2 tablespoons white wine vinegar

Pour boiling water over sugar in a large container. Stir well and leave to cool. When cold add the remaining ingredients, stir again and leave for 24 hours. Then strain through a fine strainer. Bottle and cap. Do not fill the bottles too full as this drink is very fizzy. The champagne is ready in one to two weeks.

Elderberries are dark, rich red, indicating that they are full of anthocyanins - one of the best plant pigments for human health. They also contain heaps of Vitamin C, so it's a good idea to mix a handful of berries in with other fruits in juices or compotes.

Even if you don't harvest them for your own use, the berries won't go to waste because birds absolutely love them.

Lismore Garden Club News

A reminder that the Lismore Garden Club and Summerland Coaches are doing a Hunter Valley Tour, which departs Tuesday, March 30, and returns Friday, April 2. The main feature of the tour is the beautiful new gardens at Pokolbin, probably the best private gardens in Australia. Next door to the gardens we will visit McGuigan Cellars. There will also be a visit to the historic town of Morpeth near Maitland and we will complete a memorable tour with a drive around the city and redeveloped foreshores of Newcastle.

You don't have to be a member of the Garden Club - anyone can go. The tour cost is $370 P.P.T.S (S/Supp $100), which includes luxury coach, motel, three breakfasts and dinners, plus one lunch. Seats are limited, so contact Mary now on 6621 5293.

Gardening is a very healthy hobby enjoyed by a countless numbers of Australians. Because of the abundant fresh air, sunshine and exercise, gardeners are often physically and mentally healthier. A wise gardener once said "It is better to plant daisy's than push them up." There is no age limit with gardening - it can be enjoyed by the whole family, from kids to grandparents. As a matter of fact if your children are home for holidays and bored, now is a good time to make a start on a garden for them. It will give them a sense of responsibility and an appreciation for nature. Choose a sunny spot, prepare the soil by removing grass and weeds, dig over well after you have added a good dusting of dolomite and organic fertiliser like blood and bone. Plant seeds of hardy summer plants such as sunflowers, sweet corn and pumpkins. Then hand over the responsibility of the watering, mulching and weeding to them.

Happy gardening
Ron Burns