Maple Drip

[garybeck]

I took this photo moments after I tapped my first maple tree (and this is also my first post to the photography group). I don't have rapid fire on my camera so I had to keep trying until I got it at the right moment. I put it on the "action" setting to ensure a fast shutter speed. I used the auto focus to focus on the metal tap and then kept the focus locked while I aimed at the drip. (if i allowed it to autofocus on the drip it probably wouldn't have worked). Took me 4 tries.

[mth44sc]

1. For a few years I was a country kid

in rural Ohio. Down the road where some folks who did this year after year. I remember them inviting us down and showing us how they boiled it off and the whole 9 yards.

And your picture reminded me of all that. Thanks!

[garybeck]

2. this is my first time making syrup

the first day I collected about 1.5 gallons of sap from the two trees i tapped. I have that amount almost all boiled down now. Plus I have another 1.5 gallons of sap I collected this morning. I need to keep up with the sap production or i'm in trouble! I am just putting the sap in a pot on top of my wood stove. It's a good thing i need to heat my house too, or I wouldn't know what to do.

gary

[mth44sc]

3. As I recall

those three gallons of sap will boil down to a pretty small amount of finished product.

Enjoy the end result!

[garybeck]

4. I stopped when

I had about a quart, from the 1.5 gallons. It's a little thinner than normal but it's very sweet and thick enough for me!

[ManiacJoe]

8. I used to have neighbors back in Maine who did this.

If I remember correctly it takes forty units of sap to boil down to one unit of syrup.

[Callalily]

5. Just love this picture, great

capture of the sap dropping.

And isn't gathering sap and making your own syrup fun, although a lot of work, but very tasty and well worth the effort.

[NV Whino]

6. Nice catch on many levels!

[Dallas Dem]

7. That's a really "sweet" shot...

.....and the best thing about the drip is seeing the other trees in the drop itself.

Sweet. Very sweet. :toast: