A majestic tree is fading fast. For the people who loved it, it’s like losing a family member. By Daryln Brewer Hoffstot Hoffstot is a freelance writer living on a farm in western Pennsylvania.

FRELINGHUYSEN - In early March there's often snow on the ground, sap flowing strongly through plastic tubing on the hillside, and steam rolling out the peak of Sarah's Syrup's sugarhouse in the middle ...

Eight years ago, Vince Portelli tapped a sugar maple tree on his brother-in-law’s property, brought the sap back to his Bloomingdale home, watched a YouTube video on how to make syrup, boiled the sap ...

These three maples have somewhat similar-looking leaves. On the surface, you may think this is simply an academic exercise. But if you care about invasive plants and local ecology, this distinction is ...