Spring Time in Maine, what a lovely thought.  For Mainers and everyone we all take joy in the thought of winter finally giving way to spring.  The sounds of the birds singing in the morning, the first flowers poking up through the dirt, the smell of freshly turned dirt out in the garden and warm spring days spent outside. 

But if you live in Maine or have spent anytime in Maine during early spring you realize that before you have to get through one extra season that many outsiders don't know about.  This season is called "MUD SEASON". 

Mud Season the time when the days get are getting a little longer, the sun a little stronger and the temperature gets above freezing during the day. This causes the mountains of snow to start melting and running off ceating huge mud puddles everywhere you go. 

But the mud, water, flooding and general mess that this time of year often brings for most Mainers is just as exciting as finding the first tender bloom popping out of the ground.  It means that, even if the Easter Bunny needs to use Santa's sled that old man winter has loosening his grip on them.  The plastic film that covers the windows to keep the drafts out can come down, seedlings for the garden are planted and soon the days of cold and snow are over for the year.

Another thing that mud season brings is the making of that all important delicacy Maine Maple Syrup.  Wherever you see a maple tree at this time of year you will probably see a bucket or a plastic milk jug attatched collecting the sap for syrup.  People strapping on their snow shoes, lacing up the muck boots and treking in the woods to gather sap. 

In fact this is such a large event the State of Maine has Maple Sunday in which you can visit different farms that produce the syrup.  You can walk through the groves of Maple trees to see how the sap is collected, cooked down to make syrup, sugar and other goodies. Most producers offer free samples of their product. This event is always on the 4th Sunday of March, unless it falls on Easter. 

If you find your travels for the Easter Holiday include a trip to Maine rember to pack your warm clothes, mud boots and leave plenty of room in your trunk to bring home some freshly made Maine Syrup. 

Lindy