The Sugar Maple – Hardwood

Almost Heaven, Sugar Maple!

Oct 5, 2025 (Little Falls WV)

On Oct 5th, I climbed a Sugar Maple tree in Little Falls, West Virginia.  The state tree here is the Sugar Maple.  There are several species of Maple native to this state.  Sugar Maple lumber is sold as “hard maple” and is used to make a wide variety of products.  Every basketball court and bowling alley in the country, or at least all the ones I have seen, are made from hard maple.  This is also the preferred species for making maple syrup. 

I connected with the state forester and director of the West Virginia Division of Forestry Jeremy Jones.  He shared some really great things to celebrate:  “We are the 3rd most forested state with over 12 million acres of forest.  The forest industry generates $3.2 billion annually.  Management requires close partnership with private landowners because 87% of our forests are privately owned with over 180,000 landowners”.  When asked about challenges facing the forests of his state Mr. Jones brought up the same invasive species concerns that we have in my home state of Pennsylvania.   

As for the state tree I chose to climb, I stopped in Little Falls, West Virginia, along the Potomac River.  I found a beautiful Sugar Maple in the front yard of Little Falls Presbyterian Church.  I was reminded of the parable of the mustard seed.   When Christ was asked to describe the kingdom of God he answered  “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field.  Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”  Matthew 13:31    A Tree!   Heaven is like a tree!  I love it.