Tapping a Maple Tree

Believe it or not this does not harm the Maple tree although it looks like it should. The tap hole is no longer than a typical pencil point. Once the tap line is inserted, the tree starts to produce. When the season is over, the tap is removed and the tree will heal itself. Truly fascinating! There are also guidelines on how many taps can be put into a tree at one time- it has to do with a tree's thickness. Most trees will only have one. The sap is drawn out not by suction, but by gravity. That way the tree is not depleted of the other nutrients it needs.

[Sondra Sarra]

He sure is focused. nice capture.

[Mary Siegle]

Fascinating. Great portrait.

[Karen Mitchell]

pretty great concentration levels recorded here.

[aikimomm (phoebe)]

Love his focus. And yours!

[Debs Stott]

Fascinating

[Denise Wood]

Great action shot :)

[Suse♡]

Coll action pic, love the expression

[Jules Hoogstra-Anderson]

I've gone to a maple bush many times and never knew this about the tree tapping, thanx for informing us! Great action shot, I love it when people contrast so hard they stick out their tongue. Fab shot!

[Peter Day]

Thank you for the info

[Martina]

Thanks for sharing this!

[sarah]

Interesting shot and I love the capture of the falling wood shavings!

[katy]

Nice action shot and intense look you have captured.

[Diane]

Love the expression on his face! Interesting information, too--I always wondered how they got maple syrup (the real stuff. . .)

[wendy frost]

Great expression captured and interersting info about the syrup.

[Chris K]

very interesting. Never knew how it was collected. I love how he is sticking out his tongue. it must make the drill work better :)

[alta]

Interesting shot. I learned something new today.

[Nina Ganci]

interesting

[Ann H. LeFevre]

@sarraphoto @mcsiegle @kandkids @aikimomm @dibzgreasley @susale @juleshoogstraanderson @peterday @cherrymartina @zinnia @grammyn @eudora @wendyfrost @cruiser @altadc @ninaganci

thanks everyone! apologies for going AWOL for a few days! Life got busy and I was exhausted! I should be back on track now. Now off to see your picutres!

[Sally Ings]

I didn't realise that you were limited to the amount that you can tap at a given time. The youngster is concentrating hard, making sure he gets it just right.

[Ann H. LeFevre]

@salza Thanks Sally! Yes, if my memory serves me correctly, you can only put one tap in to a tree that is 10 inches in diameter. The next size up can receive two and the most any tree can have is three.