MONTICELLO— Elderberry, a hardy and versatile plant, is considered one of the most underused native plants in today’s world. However, elderberry plants have been used for a variety of purposes dating back to the Egyptians. Hippocrates, the “father of medicine” believed in elderberry’s medicinal properties and Native Americans used the stems for arrows and taps to gather maple syrup. The ripe flowers and berries are a culinary delight and have often been used in extracts, jams, jellies, teas, and wines.

Piatt County Master Gardeners will host Kay Carnes, former President of the Illinois Herb Association, who will discuss growing, harvesting and using the elderberry noon to 1 p.m. on November 19 at Piatt County Extension office 210 S. Market Street in Monticello. This event is free and requires no registration. Kay Carnes is also a frequent panelist on Mid-American Gardener.

University of Illinois Extension is the flagship outreach effort of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, offering educational programs to residents of all of Illinois' 102 counties and far beyond.

Extension provides practical education you can trust to help people, businesses, and communities solve problems, develop skills and build a better future. Illinois Extension is committed to reaching new audiences with research-based programs tailored to meet local needs.

The Piatt County Master Gardeners are volunteers trained by the University of Illinois Extension. Master Gardeners fulfill their mission of Helping Others Learn to Grow by volunteering their time and horticulture skills through community gardening projects and educational outreach.
 

Contact

Beth Miglin
Program Coordinator, Master Gardeners
Piatt Extension Office
210 S. Market St., Monticello, IL 61856
(217) 762-2191
bmiglin@illinois.edu