Tyler Arboretum Maple Sugaring (2/29/2020)

Saturday, February 29, 2020
Time for maple sugaring here in Pennsylvania! We attended the Pancake Breakfast at Tyler Arboretum, then went out to refresh our memories about maple sugaring.

Station One: Learning to identify a Sugar Maple tree in the winter,
by looking for opposite branches and small round red buds

Maple sugaring time is when the temperatures at night are below freezing and during the day are above freezing.

Station Two: Finding the proper size tree and
drilling a hole angled upward

A stile or spout is placed in the hole and a bucket hooked underneath to collect the sap. A cover on the bucket keeps out rain or snow, animals, leaves, and other debris.

This tree is already tapped, but they are
measuring the circumference of the tree

The sugar maple tree should be 31-53 inches in circumference for one tap, 57-75 inches for two taps, and 79 inches or greater for three taps.

Rendering the maple sap by heating it for evaporation of water content

Sugar maple sap is 98% water, and it requires 20 gallons of sap to make a half gallon of maple syrup.

Jasminum nudiflorum/Winter Jasmine

Eranthis hyemalis/Winter Aconite

Galanthus sp/Snowdrops

Helleborus orientalis/Lenten Roses