Sambucus nigra common name is Elderalso called European Elderberry. It grows wild almost
everywhere in Europe. Usually it is no more
than a bush, but it can form a small tree.
It is a deciduous bush or little tree generally growing 4 -
6 m (13-20 ft) in height at some point it turn into 10 m in tallness. The bark,
light dim when youthful, changes to a coarse dim external bark with the long
way wrinkling. The leaves are orchestrated in inverse combines, 10–30 cm long,
pinnate with five to seven handouts, the pamphlets 5–12 cm long and 3–5 cm
wide, with a serrated margin.
Sambucus nigra – Elder
The twigs are stout but brittle, since they hold a thick
white pith. They are often angular and bear vertical corky pores on their bark.
The buds are oppositely set, with a clear leaf scar below them, and several
loose brownish-red or purple scales. The leaves are compound-pinnate, comprised
of five to seven oval leaflets with toothed margins, somewhat resembling Ash.
The fragrant, bi-sexual creamy-white June blossoms stand
above the foliage in flat-topped cymes of 5-6 inches diameter. These blossoms
are sometimes brewed to make a refreshing or medicinal tea. The flowers are
succeeded by small green globular berries, eventually juicy and purple-black,
much used for the making of elder-berry wine.
On young stems the bark is pale yellowish-brown, with
prominent vertically disposed lenticels, which are at first pale but become
darker. Later the bark rapidly becomes furrowed and corky, thick and
greyish-brown in color. The wood when and horny in texture.
Elder is often treated as a weed, but sometimes as a favored covert
plant. In sheltered places it may carry some green leaf throughout most of the
year, but a hard frost will blacken and cripple the foliage.
Salix chaenomeloidescommonly known as Giant Pussy Willow also
known as Japanese Pussy Willow. It is native to Japan, Korea and China. This is a
deciduous, ornamental willow that grown for its large dusky-pink or white
catkins. It is easy to see how these catkins raise the bar for flower
arrangements. It blooms in spring. It is a large shrub that grown 4-10 m (13-33
ft) in height; light brown new growth; attractive large oblong leaves which
start reddish and become yellow-green when larger; vigorous growth habit, with
long spreading branches, becoming as wide as it is tall. S. chaenomeloides,
biggest show is the bright red-mahogany covering that protects the pussies
before they emerge. These bud-scales'
combination of size and color is unique in willows, and make the shrub one of
the joys of Fall and Winter. Naturally it’s grows near the banks of the rivers.
These plants are some of the earliest pollen and nectar sources for our
pollinating insects and help them regain their strength after the long winter
months. Pussy Willows are easily managed shrubs for border areas in the garden
landscape. Once flowering is complete, plants can be pruned to the desired size
and shape without disrupting the next season's bloom.
Salix chaenomeloides - Giant Pussy Willow Leaves
Giant Pussy Willow Leaves in Fall
Salix chaenomeloides - Giant Pussy Willow Catkins
Giant Pussy Willow Flowers
Salix chaenomeloides - Giant Pussy Willow Flowers
Salix chaenomeloides - Giant Pussy Willow Full Bloom
