Rowanberry jelly

http://thefoody.com/preserves/rowanjelly.html

This page has a recipe for rowan berry jelly.

Makes: 1.4 - 1.8kg (3 - 4lb)

900g (2 lb) Rowan Berry
900g (2 lb) Crab Apples
1.8 lt (3 pints) Water
Sugar

Pick over the rowan berries, removing any stalks, wash if necessary, drying well.
Wash the whole crab apples, removing any bruised parts.
Place the fruit and just enough water to cover into a heavy bottomed saucepan.
Bring to the boil and simmer, covered for 20 - 25 minutes, until tender.
Strain through a jelly bag or muslin cloth, allow about 4 hours for this, do not squeeze as this will cause the jelly to become cloudy.
Measure the volume of the liquid, add 450g (1lb) of sugar for each pint (600ml) of liquid.
Place the sugar in an ovenproof bowl and put it in the centre of a pre-heated oven for 10 - 15 minutes.
Place the juice back into a heavy bottomed saucepan, add the sugar, stirring until fully dissolved.
Bring to the boil and cook rapidly for 10 - 15 minutes until the setting point is reached.
Skim the surface if necessary, allow to cool slightly then pot.

Alder trees

Wow - the Alder tree is a kind of Betulaceae (as is Birch). Birch and Alder are related. I wonder if Alder smells like wintergreen too.

http://www.2020site.org/trees/alder.html

and, (heh heh), they are supposed to be planted right around now!

"When planting, care should be taken to keep the roots moist as the modules, when dried out, will die. The seedlings, when about 3" high, are ready for planting out between November and March. Care should be taken in handling the brittle seedlings. The tree is hardy to minus 30C. Growth will be about 1 meter per year for about 18 years under favourable conditions. Natural regeneration will take place provided there is full sunlight and exposed soil. Young stumps at least 6" high will sprout new shoots; however chances of the tree sprouting new shoots will reduce on each occasion that it is coppiced. Very little affects the Red Alder in the way of desease or insects. Logs from Red Alder may be inoculated with mushroom spoors to provide a useful harvest. "

From http://dede.essortment.com/aldertree_rzgc.htm