My elderberry bushes are still blooming in October. Some clusters are still small and green and a few have already ripened. It is going to frost soon and I am concerned I will lose this years crop. Everything I have found says they should be ripe around first part of September. Does anyone know why they are flowering so late? Also, I have very few clusters that are completely ripe throughout. The berries that are large and black end up falling off before others ripen. Ohio had a bad winter and late spring, but I hate to jump of the obvious since I have not been able to find anyone else talking about this as a problem. They were cut way back, fertilized and we have had ample rain this year.