Category Archives: Maple Syrup

Read about the maple syrup season at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum!

Moving On

Posted on May 1, 2013 by

By Richard DeVries The snow in April saved our Maple Syrup season. It brought some extra moisture and slowed down the spring warm-up. We ended up with 111 gallons of Arboretum made Pure Maple Syrup. It is the second best … Continue reading →

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End of the Late Syrup Season

Posted on April 25, 2013 by

This is the first season, in our thirty years of record keeping, that we did not cook any syrup in March. This is also the first season that we are cooking syrup past April 22. It is a late season. … Continue reading →

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Finally, Syrup!

We started cooking with the evaporator on March 30, the last open house. We knew that 120 gallons of sap was not enough to start making syrup in the continuous feed evaporator. We cooked down the sap till the tank … Continue reading →

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The Rule of 86

Posted on April 4, 2013 by

By Richard DeVries It is taking a long time this spring for the sap to start flowing. The ground is finally starting to thaw enough for the trees to pick up some moisture. On the south hill we have four … Continue reading →

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Under Pressure

Posted on March 28, 2013 by

by Richard DeVries After being cold and frozen, the Sugar Maples at the Arboretum are slowly waking up. The snow and the cold March weather have delayed springtime in the sugarbush. Maybe it seems extra late this year because last … Continue reading →

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What a Difference a Year Makes

Posted on March 21, 2013 by

By Richard DeVries The Maple Syrup season can vary quite a bit. Some years we have tapped our trees in late February when warm weather was expected, but more commonly we tap our trees the first week of March. Sometimes … Continue reading →

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Not the Sap-Run we were Hoping for

Posted on March 16, 2013 by

By Richard DeVriesSo, it wasn’t quite the sap-run I was hoping for. After the dusting of snow on Thursday morning it got sunny and the temperatures were climbing. It had been cold during the night and the daytime temperature was … Continue reading →

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The Most Diverse Sugarbush in the Midwest

Posted on March 12, 2013 by

Making Maple Syrup is not just hanging a bucket on a tree and cooking syrup on a wood fire anymore. The Maple Syrup industry has evolved and has been modernized just like other industries. Research is being done and every … Continue reading →

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Two hundred tapped Sugar Maples

Posted on March 7, 2013 by

By Richard DeVries Last Friday I thought I could ease into the Maple Syrup season and get organized for the volunteers to come on Saturday. Apparently everybody has Friday’s off, and dedicated as the volunteers are, they all came on … Continue reading →

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Spring in the Arboretum Sugar Bush

Posted on February 26, 2013 by

By Richard DeVries Winter is saying its goodbyes when the days grow longer and warmer. The snow starts to melt and the woods come alive. In the Sugar Bush we have to be prepared for the first signs of spring. … Continue reading →

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