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**carolyn137** · May 18, 2018

We had both Sumac and elderberries on our farm where I grew up

There was a huge stone pile of rocks that turned up after the ground froze and thawed in the Spring, and I think the Shakers who owned our property at one time, were the first ones to start that pile in the mid-1800's.

What was there when I first saw it were Sumac bushes that turned brilliant red and orange in the Fall.

http://www.tomatoville.com/newreply....ote=1&p=700628

We were always told to never go near those bushes, and we didn't and the following link will tell you why.

https://www.google.com/search?q=suma...&bih=815&dpr=1

Along the back of one barn there were elderberry bushes, the flowers were very fragrant,the bees were working them all the time.Mom would make elderberry Jam and jelly, but we kids would use them to make ink,yes,I said ink.

https://www.google.com/search?q=Elde...&bih=815&dpr=1

http://www.tomatoville.com/newreply....ote=1&p=700628

Pick off clusters of elderberries, take them to a large stone, pound them with another stone until the juices ran, dip finger in the juice and paint your face and arms, and no,it wasn't easy to get off.

One of the links above also talks about the development of Elderberry cultivars,ones that were bred and named some of them.Back in the day we just had the wild elderberries,that no doubt a low flying bird dropped,ahem,some initial seeds.

We also kind of inherited from the Shakers orchards of peaches and pears and apples, all kinds,some so rare that a man from a nursery came each year to take scions for cultivation.

Also had several of what were called Italian prune plums,lucious and sweet, very tall trees actually, and then rhubarb and blackcaps and red raspberries galore as well as white,red,pink and black currants..

Carolyn,who almost forgot the mulberries.

May 18, 2018	#14
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	We had both Sumac and elderberries on our farm where I grew up There was a huge stone pile of rocks that turned up after the ground froze and thawed in the Spring, and I think the Shakers who owned our property at one time, were the first ones to start that pile in the mid-1800's. What was there when I first saw it were Sumac bushes that turned brilliant red and orange in the Fall. http://www.tomatoville.com/newreply....ote=1&p=700628 We were always told to never go near those bushes, and we didn't and the following link will tell you why. https://www.google.com/search?q=suma...&bih=815&dpr=1 Along the back of one barn there were elderberry bushes, the flowers were very fragrant,the bees were working them all the time.Mom would make elderberry Jam and jelly, but we kids would use them to make ink,yes,I said ink. https://www.google.com/search?q=Elde...&bih=815&dpr=1 http://www.tomatoville.com/newreply....ote=1&p=700628 Pick off clusters of elderberries, take them to a large stone, pound them with another stone until the juices ran, dip finger in the juice and paint your face and arms, and no,it wasn't easy to get off. One of the links above also talks about the development of Elderberry cultivars,ones that were bred and named some of them.Back in the day we just had the wild elderberries,that no doubt a low flying bird dropped,ahem,some initial seeds. We also kind of inherited from the Shakers orchards of peaches and pears and apples, all kinds,some so rare that a man from a nursery came each year to take scions for cultivation. Also had several of what were called Italian prune plums,lucious and sweet, very tall trees actually, and then rhubarb and blackcaps and red raspberries galore as well as white,red,pink and black currants.. Carolyn,who almost forgot the mulberries. __________________ Carolyn