Sugar Maples are the trees that get tapped for maple syrup. They are also the quintessential New England foliage tree that blaze orange in the fall. My animals don’t care about that. All they know is that Sugar Maples are delicious. I had to prune a branch that was leaning on a fence. I put it in the Little Barn run.
Candy hopped right over. Stand close and you can hear her crunching and munching.
Edwina stopped sunbathing to investigate and declared the leaves quite tasty.
I gave a branch to the goats who liked the leaves and the bark.
The goaties also appreciated a flexible and fragrant scratching stick.
Lily, however, doesn’t see what all of the fuss is about. She prefers her sticks dry, fat, and thrown through the air.
A maple party and buffet. I am so glad you shared this…
I can hear the crunching and munching, loud and clear, and I love it!
Beautiful photos!
It never occurred to me that these were edible. I plan on cutting a branch and seeing how the hens deal with it. As usual, beautiful photography. Moment caught in time that can be enjoyed after time! Candy’s and the two goats’ are my favorites.
Awww, great pictures. Love the goats – their pupils have always fascinated me me since I was a child! Do you tap your own tree(s) for maple syrup?
You need A LOT of sap to make syrup. Requires a lot of fuel for boiling. So, no, I don’t, but I know people in town who do. The girl scouts tapped the trees at the library and donated some to a food pantry!
I, too, had a delicious lunch, but not of maple leaves. I was able to borrow your unfortunately OP Farmstead Egg Cookbook from my library interloan service. After having improved my scrambled eggs by lowering the cooking temperature (using eggs from grain-fed, free-range hens), I moved on to my first poached attempt today. I simmered 1 egg for 4 mins, slid it onto a slice of cinnamon-raisin toast and thanked Terry for her eggcouragement and recipe for an easy, delicious meal.
That’s wonderful!
I didn’t even know about the book, but have now placed a request and hold for my library’s copy!
I’m planning a small arboretum in my field and I think I’ll have to have one to go with my tulip tree and European lime… they look so lovely.
The color change in fall is dependent on warm days and cold nights. I wonder what they do in your clime.
I bet they are tasty to them. I love maple too. The real stuff. BTW, the old gals and Candy are still working on the pumpkin. Everyday I watch them eat at it.
Be careful about giving maple leaves to horses though — a few fresh ones are fine, but wilted/fermented ones can cause colic and/or founder, especially in large quantities.
Thanks for the warning. Wilted stone fruit leaves (cherries, peaches, etc) can kill goats, so I am very careful about those! Oddly, fresh and dry are fine.
Your chickens did a great job of “carving” that pumpkin!
What a fab idea to put a pumpkin in for your hens…… I hadnt ever thought of that! Im going to get one right away for mine now. :-) also love your pic of Candy and the goats.