Maple syrup's in!

The weather was significantly warmer on March 24 than it was the weekend before, when the Audubon Center had originally scheduled its annual maple syrup tour. That first event was canceled because of heavy snows on March 16.

When the tour was offered at last, the weather was considerably more balmy, but the ground was considerably more muddy, as syrup lovers tromped and squealched their way along sticky pathways through the maple grove to the sugar shack.

The weather also played havoc with the production of syrup, with the trees producing only about one fifth as much sap as normal. Audubon was one of the only sugar shacks to do large-scale production this year. Others, such as the Great Mountain Forest in Norfolk and North Canaan, were unable to do the heavy labor involved because of staff shortages.

For a maple syrup recipe, turn to the health page, B3.

— Cynthia Hochswender