The reason I thought about all this today is because I was thinking about our Herb of the Year for 2013, Elderberry. I don’t know how my brothers and I ever missed Elderberry when I was young but I suppose it was just one of those plants we knew nothing about. Elderberry is a wild plant, more of a tall bush actually, and is absolutely wonderful. I’ve made cough syrups, teas, jelly, fritters, oh the list goes on and not only is it delightful tasting it’s medicinal as well. The colonists believed the Elderberry to be the guardian of the herb garden.
My one brother is crazy about going out and gathering elderberries as he goes "weed-hoppin'" (needless to say we giggle a little). He gathers them for me every year and loves to snip peppermint and spearmint for me as well. He finds the finest black peppermint anywhere.
Even today "the boys", my twin brothers, and I go walking together in the woods and try to do so every year. We have kind of a pact, that when we’re 70 we’ll go out in the woods walking together again. They always make fun of me saying that I’ll be 72 and they will be 70!! The jerks!!! Always reminding me that I’m the oldest!!