I‘ve lived here over five years now, but just when I think I’ve seen all the plants that grow wild here, another one catches my attention and arouses my curiosity.

red elderberry flowers
Earlier this month, I saw this flower out of the corner of my eye, and walked over to identify it.
red elderberry leaves
The compound leaves had five toothed leaflets.

Several people suggested it was baneberry, and baneberry does bloom around the same time, with a similarly shaped flower. Only one problem.

red elderberry woody stem
Baneberry is herbaceous, and the flowers were blooming on a woody plant.

Hmm, what could it…