Recovering Spring

March 21st through 27th

Early last week, Zombie Winter continued to shuffle through the northwoods. It was cold, the lake ice was growing, and snow was predicted.

The cold ripened a fine crop of Wisconsin Coconuts. To harvest this maple-y fruit, the collector punches a hole or two in the icy "husk" and pours out the juice. Harvesting sap in this manner is slow, but at least there was no snow to impede the trek from tree to tree.

It hit on Wednesday night. By Thursday morning there was a 5 to 8 inch thick blanket of cold covering the lake and surrounding area.

Cold green/brown lawns around the lake reverted back to a Winter white canvas.

Brushing the snow off jugs of sap was easy. Getting frozen sap out of the jugs was less easy.

To get more tree juice, wheels were no longer effective.

The cold coupled with the snow finally slowed the taps and we were able to get all the sap to the boiling pans.

A check of local lakes held no surprises. Lake Metonga is still frozen.

Lake Wabikon and Devils Lake are also ice covered.

The lake continues to rise! The snow and cold has not stopped the creeks and streams from flowing. We'll get another lake level check in a few days, but it looks like Lake Lucerne is only about 5 inches below the nail. Huzzah!

By the end of Easter weekend, temperatures pushed into the 40's℉ and much of the snow melted. The local opinion is that Zombie Winter is over and Spring is back. We agree. Yay! Lawns are green again and ferns are covering the forest floor. No trillium yet, but it's just a matter of time. The lake ice on the edges is thin, but 50 feet from shore the ice is about 8 inches thick. A good one week warm spell should just about do it.<br><br>-Nemo's going down to syrup on Tuesday and again on Friday.