Jason Dean / CC
Longer daylight hours and warming temperatures have started something you can’t usually see, but the onset of spring has started the sap flowing in the sugar maples at Maywood Environmental Park.
Park Director Dave Kuckuck said they’re busy processing one of nature’s original treats, and so far 240 gallons of sap have already been collected. But if that sounds like a lot, Kuckuck said that 240 gallons will be reduced to about just 6 gallons of finished product. Throughout the season, that means there’ll be about 25 gallons produced in all.
In a normal year, all that syrup would be served on pancakes during one of Maywood’s signature events called “Flapjack Day”, but for the second consecutive year, that event is cancelled due to the pandemic. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t take in the sweetness. When the Maywood Headquarters is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, you can find exhibits about the maple syrup process, and take a taste test to compare two samples of the artificial syrup that most people know with two samples of the real thing, and see if you can identify which is which.
And, yes, you can buy Maywood’s maple syrup, and the proceeds help fund programs and operations. Although the headquarters operates Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays only, the park itself is open 7 days a week for self-guided hikes and exploring the maple forest, and Kuckuck suggested checking their facebook page for regular updates on Maple Sugar Month.
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