Sambucus nigra is a species of elder native to most of Europe, northwest Africa and southwest Asia. It is most commonly called just Elder or Elderberry, but also Black Elder, European Elder, European Elderberry, European Black Elderberry, Common Elder, or Elder Bush when distinction from other species of Sambucus is needed. It grows in a variety of conditions including both wet and dry fertile soils, primarily in sunny locations.
FruitIt is a deciduous shrub or small tree growing to 4–6 m (rarely to 10 m) tall. The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs, 10–30 cm long, pinnate with five to seven (rarely nine) leaflets, the leaflets 5–12 cm long and 3–5 cm broad, with a serrated margin. The hermaphrodite flowers are borne in large corymbs 10–25 cm diameter in mid summer, the individual flowers white, 5–6 mm diameter, with five petals; they are pollinated by flies. The fruit is a dark purple to black berry 3–5 mm diameter, produced in drooping clusters in the late autumn; they are an important food for many fruit-eating birds, notably Blackcaps.

Sambucus nigra L. è una pianta angiosperma dicotiledone legnosa a foglie decidue. È una specie molto diffusa in Italia soprattutto negli ambienti ruderali (lungo le linee ferroviarie, parchi, ecc.), boschi umidi e rive di corsi d’acqua.
Il sambuco è un arbusto alto 4-6 m. I rami portano delle foglie composte, di colore verde scuro, lunghe 10-30 cm. Le foglie sono imparipennate con margine dentato-seghettato; la forma delle foglioline è lanceolata con apice acuminato, la fillotassi è opposta. I fiori sono ermafroditi e portati in infiorescenze (corimbi) molto vistose, larghe 10-23 cm. I singoli fiori sono formati da 5 petali fusi alla base (fiori gamopetali), calice anch’esso gamesepalo, ovario infero, 4 stami sporgenti. Fiorisce tra aprile e giugno. I frutti sono delle bacche nerastre, lucide.
Il sambuco presenta proprietà medicinali-erboristiche riscontrabili nei frutti e nei fiori.

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Very small flowers

source: Giovanni88Ant

In the gardens of Vaucluse House Vaucluse a beautiful old mansion built on the shores of Sydney Harbour
……..

One of the most treasured estates, dating back to 1803, in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, Vaucluse House is surrounded by 10 hectares of picturesque gardens and grounds stretching down to Sydney Harbour. The sandstone mansion was built in the 1830s and was the home of William Charles Wentworth, barrister and explorer, and his family. The estate is a peaceful oasis away from the hectic city bustle.
Courtesy of Historic Houses Trust.

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/illawarra/5487890393/

View On White

This was taken from my garden. These are TINY flower buds that are starting to form. I took this image, this morning as the rain fell.

Wonderful Garden Design Ideas… Daily Design

Denver Botanical Gardens in Colorado

A small section of the Japanese Garden at the Botanic Gardens, north of Chicago. It was a cloudy, peaceful, windless day. But, cloudy skies also possess a magic to their light that can play with color in a delightful and sublime way. ~ View On White

I was compelled to come here recently [to these Gardens]. I needed to go there, actually. The rancorous election process over here has weighed a little too heavily on me this time around (my 15th Presidential election). I am fearful and uncomfortable with the Dark Side of the Force (fear, prejudice, meanness of spirit, racism, sexism) running about loose in my land.

I don’t know if it is my Yin or Yang that’s out of whack, but one of them definately is. There is less lightness to my being than normal.

So, I went photographing in a multi-national garden with my friend Carl Vizzone, http://flickr.com/photos/cmefish/, in an effort to refresh my sense of peace and to find some sort of reconnection to….I am not sure. We are a multiplicity of individuals, but ultimately and still, one human species of beings; sometimes together; sometimes separate, sometimes in harmony, sometimes out.

We have, as a species, come so far in 10,000 years of recorded history. It hasn’t been easy – much work remains. But, periodically, I lose myself in the turmoil of life, and it takes wandering around in Nature find some comfort and remind me; each of us are but one small part of the whole fabric of this world. Here but a brief moment in time. And, although in some ways, only a small part of the whole, we are also a big part of the whole.

We are not as strong alone as we men like to think, but more strong in a community, as women have always known. So, seek nurturing somewhere. The woods, the gardens, the water seem like good places to start.

Back to politics: My nerves are quite shot. ) I hope we (U.S.A.) pass this test we are playing out in front of the rest of the world. Whether we do or not, and as regards the general, everyday turmoil of life, well, I shall just have to take in more gardens and woods and waters.

Texture courtesy the incomparable csynder: http://csnyder.deviantart.com/art/stocktexture10-75895845

A very strange and unusual flower (even if it’s not) Giardini di Ninfa

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Source: ♀Μøỳαл_Bгεлл♂_BACK_FROM_PRAGUE

This time, the flowers were attracted to The bug.

These little red flowers stopped me in my tracks on my way to work and again on my way home.

from http://www.flickr.com/photos/rchoucroun/88538294/