Maple Sugar Time

Few images evoke the pure essence of New England like the site of galvanized buckets hanging from trees after a long cold and boring winter. Nature signals the sap to run when the days lengthen and the temperatures, while still very cold at night, begin to moderate. After the collection of watery sap, there remains hours of preparation before the amber colored sweet confection we all love is bottled and sped on its way to market. Here the vibrant red of the old barn provides contrast for the grays of the deteriorating snow cover as well as the ancient maple tree.