The International Herb Association has chosen Elder as the 2013 Herb of the Year.
Elderberry (Botanical name: Sambucus Canadensis)
Sometimes propagated as an ornamental shrub, the elderberry bush is a member of the honeysuckle family. It is actually a small tree, with an abundance of delicate white flowers emerging as berry clusters generally between August and October, mostly in cool-to-warm areas of the country, like the Northeastern and Northwestern areas of the US and Canada.
Freeze elderberries in a glass jar after washing and patting dry. For sauce or syrup, dissolve honey in warm water, chill well, and then pour over the elderberries packed in freezer containers.
Elderberries are a very good source of fiber vitamin A and C. Other prominent ingredients in elderberries include iron as well as potassium, vitamin B6, and lots of betacarotene. There is some evidence that elderberry can relieve a variety of ailments ranging from congestion to indigestion and may also have a detoxifying quality.