The students at Hollin Meadows Elementary School received a visit last week from author Prof. Jeff Kirwan of the Virginia Tech Department of Forestry. Kirwan was treated to lunch by the faculty and parents at the school. After lunch, fifth graders Sophie Adler and Carlos Fuentes gave the professor a tour of the school habitat, reading and vegetable gardens at the school. While in the reading garden, Kirwan asked the students about the identity of two large trees in the courtyard. Sophie and Carlos recognized them as Maples. Kirwan asked if they knew which kind of Maple.
Kirwan said they are both Sugar Maples and are large enough for sap to be harvested now to make Maple syrup. He added that he would provide the taps and instruction for harvesting and cooking down the sap to make a pourable grade of syrup.
Kirwan is also co-author of "Remarkable Trees of Virginia" with author and lecturer Nancy Ross Hugo and photographer Robert Llewellyn. The book documents the oldest, tallest, most historic and most beloved trees in the state.