It’s high summer here, and cool drinks on long days are in order.  

A special favourite this summer has been a pitcher of elderflower spritzer, with lots of ice and rosemary found locally.  We have our chosen cordial, not made ourselves this summer, but we’ve been thinking about the flower that flavours that drink.  And we’ve remembered the beautiful Wairarapa elder trees we saw flowering late last spring.  

But there’s a lot more to the elder tree, for summer enjoyment, than a cordial, or even a wine:  elderflower and berry jelly, anyone?