06/02/2026
Weβre so in awe of mighty Elder flower, a sweet protector of the Church of the Holy Basil. Just a little jaunt off Pisgah highway at the base of Mt. Pisgah and the Blue Ridge Parkway alongside Hominy creek, our church (retired United Methodist) is hugged by many plants we enjoy for educational classes, propagation and harvest. Elder (Sambucus spp.) is our showstopper and she seems to be the guardian of all the plants beneath her mighty umbels. We are grateful for her abundant flowers and fruit to share with birds and pollinators throughout spring and summer. We have planted Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly w**d) underneath Elder and other pollinator-friendly plants throughout the garden. We are a sanctuary and continue to transplant many native woodland plants in the forest behind the church. May we protect our native plants for many generations forward.