Signs of Spring # 2 - Maple Syrup Buckets

Here's another sign of spring from northeast Ohio - buckets hanging on maple trees to collect syrup. Well, actually sap at this point, since it hasn't been cooked down yet. As we inch closer to spring, the sap begins to rise in local maple trees. The sap helps build the flower buds that will later produce "whirlybirds" on the maples, as well as maple leaves. And don't worry, draining off a little sap doesn't hurt the trees at all.

As I travel Route 43 going to and from work every day, I'm now seeing many trees with these buckets attached. In fact there's one area I pass through that's called Sugar Bush Knolls, named after a large stand of maples used for "sugaring". Up in Geauga County, just north of us, maple syrup production is a big deal. Burton, Ohio has a "sugar shack" right on the town square where raw maple sap gets boiled down to syrup and maple sugar candies.

So when we start seeing these buckets around, even if there's still snow on the ground, we know spring is on the way.