As winter weather eases and daytime temperatures climb above the freezing mark, the sap begins to flow in area maple trees. Visitors to Whitewater State Park explored the syrup-making process during a demonstration that took them from tap to taste.
After watching the syrup-making process from start to finish, I began to wish I had a few maple trees to tap. It's a simple process and I love pancakes with real maple syrup.
Ken Klotzbach, Post-Bulletin photographer
03-27 syrup group kk
A group gathers around a previously tapped maple tree at Whitewater State Park to see how the sap is gathered.
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03-27 syrup hammer kk
Anna Ferden, 9, of St. Charles, taps a spile into a pre-drilled hole in a maple tree.,
03-27 syrup taste kk
Participants were encouraged to taste the subtle sweetness of the dripping sap.
03-27 syrup woodward kk
Joshua Wooward, 6, of Goodview, samples some syrup-covered ice cream at the end of the demonstration.
03-27 syrup drill kk
Josiah Woodward, 9, of Goodview, drills into a tree trunk with some help from volunteer naturalist Julie McCormack.
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03-27 syrup filter kk
Volunteer naturalist Julie McCormack filters the sap with help from Anna Ferden while her brother Riley Ferden watches at Whitewater State Park.
03-27 syrup boil kk
The sap is boiled over a wood fire until it gets close to the desired concentration. It's then brought inside for final boiling, filtering and bottling.
03-27 syrup talk kk
Volunteer naturalist Julie McCormack talks about tree tapping and sap gathering at Whitwater State parks as sap drips in several nearby buckets.
