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February Nature Notes: Maple Syrup
From Sap to Syrup
As the days begin to get a bit longer and daytime temperatures rise above freezing the last few weeks of winter, nature begins the process of waking up from the cold, dormant winter months. For trees, this awakening means sugary sap stored in the tree’s roots all winter will begin to travel up the trunk of the tree to begin nourishing the buds. These buds will open in the spring and become the flowers, leaves, and new growth for the tree.
In addition to providing nourishment for the tree, sap can also be collected from certain tree species to make maple syrup. Maple trees are the best trees to collect sap from for syrup because of the higher sugar content of the sap. Trees are tapped using a brace and bit (or drill), a 7/16 bit and metal or wooden spiles, which are tapped into the tree to create a spout. Metal buckets, plastic milk jugs, or special collecting bags can be used to collect the sap. Once the sap is collected, it must be cooked over a fire outdoors to evaporate the excess water from the sap to make syrup.
Learn more about the process of making maple syrup by attending one of the many maple syrup festivals held throughout Illinois in February and March. For more information on the Argyle Lake event, visit the park and calendar Web site links from the main DNR Web site at www.illinois.gov.
Bridget Hinchee is the Natural Resources Coordinator at Argyle Lake State Park
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By: Bridget Hinchee