Where is the Maple Syrup Season?

Wow what a spring. I have been chatting with local producers from Hayward, Aitkin, Isle, Moose Lake and all have tales of whoa. No sap is running anywhere.  Even under vacuum no one is pulling any sap.   

On the bright side the days are incredible.  The robins while a common sight in Mendota Heights all winter are just returning to the Sandstone area. Of course the Sandhill cranes are calling and just made their return know an well. In the last few days we have seen flock after flock of geese returning as weil.

Talking with Hayward Wi syruper, Granma Cindy as her handle goes, she is feeling a little blue after building a new sugar house last year and updating and improving her pans. Of course I do not feel much better with a beautiful new set of pans for my 2 x 6 and it is beginning to look like I may not get to use them.

The red maples or Acer Rubrum are beginning to break bud which puts them past use for making maple syrup. Also with this heat the sugars may not be far behind effectively ending the season. The state inspector stopped by yesterday and it makes his job quick as with no sap there is nothing to test.

The rest of the week will tell if the season is just starting or wrapping up for east central Minnesota.