Wheeler, Maeve, Michael and Doug in the sugar house.
A year ago today, February 4th, we made the first maple syrup of the 2022 season. This year we are beginning our third week of sugaring with 34 gallons of syrup in the till from January’s early sap run. What a great start to our season! Who are we to quarrel with the nature of nature?
This morning the temperature was 17 degrees and the only thing running was the cat in the yard. The ponds are frozen over and the trout are idling in slow motion below the ice filmed ponds. Unlike yesterday, the temperature should get above freezing today, but not for long. There might be a trickle of a sap run this afternoon but it’ll just be a tease. The next three or four days are looking like sugaring weather. Highs in the low 50s and lows in the 30s.
Doug stands between the ponds. Trout drift below the ice.
Early February syrup.
The golden hued, fruity syrup of January faded on the last boil as a red hued syrup with strong notes of marshmallow began to emerge. We expect each sap run from now on to give syrup whose amber hue gradually darkens as the chemistry of the sap makes its way towards spring, with notes of butterscotch, vanilla and caramel showing up as the days get longer.
We sure would like to see a big snow but there’s none in the forecast right now. Some of the best sap flows come after a heavy snow and a deep freeze. But it’s early yet, and we’ll try to sweet talk Mother Nature for now.