by Joseph Horn

For many New Englanders, late winter and early spring is the season for sap flow. Their bodies buzz with excitement as they dust off their pales and set taps as they begin the maple sugaring season. But it’s not just syrup-producing trees that are experiencing a rush of sap this time of year; just about all our trees do as they push water and nutrients from their roots and the soil into their tissues in preparation for new spring growth. As a result, this also happens to be the prime time for gathering tree bark.