A related aspect of this is what would a guild of elderberries look
like. Or where elderberries might fit into another guild, like the
fruit trees I'm planting.
I have a book on California native shrubs; it mentions that elderberry is
often found in the company of Western redbud here, a tall (10-20')
deciduous N-fixer shrub. I am currently trying that association out on my
own property.
There is also an Eastern redbud. Redbud has lovely-colored flowers in the
spring and colored leaves in the fall; it would make a nice ornamental and
mulch-producing plant, as well as possible animal forage on the seed
pods. I don't know what would eat redbud seed pods though.
Build soil,
Loren
Loren Davidson Permaculturist, philosopher, writer
loren@farwalker.com http://www.earthspring.org/loren/
AIM: loren334 ICQ: 65291610
"We have to create the future, or others will do it for us" - Gen. S.
Ivanova, ret.