===== Elderberries ===== ==== Black elderberry ==== {{:garden:misc:transplanting:gallery:01_img_6673.jpeg?200 |Black elderberry in trash pile}}I spied this elderberry growing in our trash pile. When I first saw it the stemp were large, indicating it had been there some time, like years, but I handn't noticed it before 2026!\\ \\ \\ \\ \\ \\ \\ \\ \\ \\ ==== Growing along the south fence ==== {{ :garden:misc:transplanting:gallery:02_img_6781.jpeg?200|}}This fresh elderberry caught my eye as I passed by on the tractor. I confirmed it as a red elderberry and kept an eye on it. Of course, leaves disappeared from its top. It is a must transplant so I have been watering it and noticing that it is recovering.\\ You'd think I have a thing about elderberries! Elderberry berries have medicinal uses as well as in baking. And birds and pollinators love them. \\ \\ \\ \\ \\ \\ ==== Hiding in the brush ==== {{ :garden:misc:transplanting:gallery:03_img_6709.jpeg?200|}}If these red elderberry hadn't been blooming I would never have noticed them (although I have developed a good eye for them). Two plants were growing in the brush beside our walking trail. THey looked like good candidates for transplanting next season!\\ \\ \\ \\ \\ \\ \\ ==== Revealed yet safe? ==== {{ :garden:misc:transplanting:gallery:04_img_6786.jpeg?200|}}The two red elderberries hiding in the brush became easily visible once I cut out brush while clearing along the walking trail - Visible to any passing deer or elk! \\ \\ \\ \\ \\ \\ ==== Protected? ==== {{ :garden:misc:transplanting:gallery:05_img_6788.jpeg?200|}}I cleared the ground around the two recently revealed elderberries and tried to make them less visible by dragging cuttings around them. Naturally, it didn't protect from the elk. But antiipating an opportunity to transplant one or both of them next year, I have been watering them so that they can recover from a few ??? nips of leaves higher up on them.