Don't give up on the season because of buds until you smell it while boiling and taste it in the syrup! Last season the reds were almost in full flower and I still didn't have a buddy taste. When the weather permits I go until mid April too.

The cold wind and clouds kept the sap flows small and the buckets are sitting at 7.5 gals per tap. Thankfully the vacuum has been keeping me busy in this second best season out of the last 5.