tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3810916424535818779.post2617167909903161086..comments2024-03-22T07:28:43.820+00:00Comments on The wind and the wellies: A syrup of sweet sonsie, peelie-wallie flouers - Elderflower cordial - a good life lab experimentFay McKenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14573998704716650377noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3810916424535818779.post-91947448514735368542012-07-19T09:52:35.698+01:002012-07-19T09:52:35.698+01:00Really interested to come across this blog when se...Really interested to come across this blog when searching for 'elderflower orkney' to try and find out whether elders grow well in Orkney as we move up in 6 weeks and though I have made endless batches to last us through the winter I am delighted to know I can go foraging and make more next year. Interesting to hear you used frozen lemons, never tried that in coridal. I crush a couple of campden tablets in each batch as I find that's the only thing that works to keep it for months...Look forward to reading more of the blog as we prepare for our move up...Charlotte Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18388669544445623857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3810916424535818779.post-52561277135561584092011-08-08T21:06:32.710+01:002011-08-08T21:06:32.710+01:00Wwc thank you, and I think it's yummy and very...Wwc thank you, and I think it's yummy and very kind of you :)<br /><br />Mrs bok, I'm willing it grow for you.Fay McKenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14573998704716650377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3810916424535818779.post-56830096781783498522011-08-08T21:04:26.271+01:002011-08-08T21:04:26.271+01:00Linniew the cordial it's incredibly refreshing...Linniew the cordial it's incredibly refreshing, aromatic and sharp, fresh and clean, it's very yummy. Not alcoholic, but you can make champagne with it.<br /><br />If that helps....Fay McKenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14573998704716650377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3810916424535818779.post-89010571918708540282011-08-08T21:01:50.874+01:002011-08-08T21:01:50.874+01:00Callie, I'm lucky I studied there twice 2000-1...Callie, I'm lucky I studied there twice 2000-1 doing 'plantsmanship' and returned in 2005-6 to do the plant biodiversity and taxonomy MSc - hard work but brilliant! Looks like we missed each other! We go most times we are down, being a free place to visit, is awesome!<br /><br />Pentland hills are very brrish!Fay McKenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14573998704716650377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3810916424535818779.post-35849323075942531762011-08-08T13:57:27.360+01:002011-08-08T13:57:27.360+01:00Oh I'm glad you've had so much fun with th...Oh I'm glad you've had so much fun with the cordial. I do miss Beechgrove Garden since I moved doon sooth.. I wonder if it's on iPlayer?Wittgenstein's Watering Canhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09802488065084521504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3810916424535818779.post-17049585570948693252011-08-08T09:05:57.704+01:002011-08-08T09:05:57.704+01:00That's very interesting, my elder bush is tiny...That's very interesting, my elder bush is tiny can't wait until it grows bigger and I can harvest berries. I love the subtle taste of elderflower too.littlekarstarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18177535712034761585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3810916424535818779.post-73408181006478878272011-08-07T23:21:38.471+01:002011-08-07T23:21:38.471+01:00Oh my goodness I feel like I've been in your k...Oh my goodness I feel like I've been in your kitchen. What an awesome post. I laughed so much and learned so much. I cannot even begin to tell you how much I agree with that "life's too short for measuring" philosophy. And as a cheap cook who also has a grater and not a zester, it just all makes sense. I enjoyed to death the Scottish language parts. And your "deflowering" was hysterical! Then too I assumed it was berries you use & was surprised at flowers. Can you describe the taste? Does it change? Does it become alcoholic?linniewhttp://linniew.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3810916424535818779.post-14238239284335024832011-08-07T22:59:55.373+01:002011-08-07T22:59:55.373+01:00Lucky lucky you to still have elderflowers in Augu...Lucky lucky you to still have elderflowers in August. I only just caught the tail end of mine (mostly trashed by the gales and torrential rain) so I didn't get much made, but every wee drop is a delight isn't it.<br /><br />Just read on your profile that your were at the Botanics, me too, but I was a volunteer (2002-4 I think). Would have taken it further but got M.E. Still, I love my own wee patch at home and it's always good to find other gardeners who have wind issues, and clearly you will have WAY more than me up there (I'm by the Pentlands and it hits me full on, but only sometimes).Callyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11276876280803790049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3810916424535818779.post-26475271350442973742011-08-07T19:50:03.773+01:002011-08-07T19:50:03.773+01:00Squirrel, exactly, I'm so surprised at the dif...Squirrel, exactly, I'm so surprised at the difference in season, between here and the remaining uk, I've read about it, but actally virtually seeing it is quite scary! Bookmark it for next year :) at least, at my snail pace, I manage to keep up with you all, due to our shorter, later growing season! <br /><br />Oh pink cordial, that would be fun :) xx<br /><br />Yay to sustainable smallholdings :) willow is awesome! Even after four years of it, I'm still amazed at it's potentialFay McKenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14573998704716650377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3810916424535818779.post-30012732789560393302011-08-07T19:30:03.991+01:002011-08-07T19:30:03.991+01:00Great post ..........................if a little l...Great post ..........................if a little late for us southerners!! (all flowers have gone some almost in berry!)<br /><br />I have heard the black elder flowers make a pink coloured cordial yummy<br /><br /><br />I was at a farm visit yesterday and thought of you as the chap had planted loads of different willow varieties on his sustainable smallholding...........fabulousThe Squirrel Familyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08970265671489926403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3810916424535818779.post-10620792558049900882011-08-07T18:29:36.037+01:002011-08-07T18:29:36.037+01:00Cheri do you have a recipe for the champagne?Cheri do you have a recipe for the champagne?Fay McKenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14573998704716650377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3810916424535818779.post-22836547164437507382011-08-07T18:28:35.267+01:002011-08-07T18:28:35.267+01:00Cheri thank you! I think George still has a restra...Cheri thank you! I think George still has a restraining order out (I'm joking!) I'm still very much on a steep learning curve with plants, but one day, you never know!! Something to aim for, but there's so many good gardeners out there!<br /><br />Sue glad you liked the photo, enjoy blethiering in scots.<br /><br />Silversewer very interesting, I'll email you, that's even more straightforward! And, I give the flowers after to my chooks, but composting is brilliant too :)Fay McKenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14573998704716650377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3810916424535818779.post-77596809822053648422011-08-07T13:34:53.251+01:002011-08-07T13:34:53.251+01:00I love this! The photo of the 'brewing' c...I love this! The photo of the 'brewing' cordial is wonderful. I'll have to have a look around my yard for something peelie-wallie or sonsie! Your wellies are so cute, too.Sue/the view from great islandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07366703419148959445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3810916424535818779.post-63572875124293977142011-08-07T13:24:33.339+01:002011-08-07T13:24:33.339+01:00I don't take the flowers off, just lob them in...I don't take the flowers off, just lob them into a bucket with the cut up lemons,sugar and citric acid, after you have put 1 pt boiling water in to disolve the sugar, stick in the flower heads 5 pints of cold water and leave to steep for 24 - 48 hours, strain and bottle and stick the rubbish on the compost heap. I have 2 bottles in the wine rack and one in the fridge. Delicious with ice cubes and fizzy water on a hot day, or if you just want a long cool drink.<br /><br />I have als used it with just a little hot water when I have a cold ( not very often) nice sharp taste and helps to clear the muck from a sore throat.sweet blondie blue eyeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10415902997410295811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3810916424535818779.post-29594063294836278972011-08-07T13:11:36.193+01:002011-08-07T13:11:36.193+01:00Yet another wonderful post. My elderflower champag...Yet another wonderful post. My elderflower champagne was lovely last year but I have mixed results with the cordial. So if Mr Anderson taught you do you think he would be interested in your blog? I would be sending him an email to (re)introduce yourself. Who knows we might be seeing you feature on Beechgrove Garden in the future;)cherihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01266842386436970708noreply@blogger.com