Snow in March...

Yes...snow here in the Willamette Valley during the first days of spring. All is good in the hive; bees have been flying, returning with pollen, on several nice days recently.

Noticed a portion of the snow on the hive roof had slipped off and found a cavity under the snow on the roof going back a few inches from the open area...the hive heat caused the melting and shows where the ball of bees is located. Next year I will put block insulation on top of the roof, under the plastic covering, to help preserve hive heat. This would mean less work for the bees and less need for honey stores. Would still keep wood chips in the attic to absorb moisture; I've been changing the chips regularly (every 2-3 weeks), switching the cases and letting them dry out in the house.

Roof snow melted from hive heat.



Ken and I have again talked about adapting the Warre hive design. I'm excited to get the hive and set it up as a bait hive for the swarm that I'm sure will be happening from the TBH. Starting out this spring the hive is almost half full as the heat pattern seems to show, so they will be wanting more hive space...I believe.

Ken has a good description on how to set up a top bar hive at http://www.yardcraftjunky.com/setting-up-a-top-bar-bee-hive.htm. Check it out if you are interested in becoming a "bee guardian."

Also, I bought the "Queen of the Sun" documentary DVD; amazing photography and a really good description of the worldwide bee crises, a call to all of us to do what we can now to protect the bees and thus ourselves. http://www.queenofthesun.com/

Bees in Baja!

While camping February 26 on a remote beach in the southern part of Baja on the Sea of Cortez, I found this old abandoned toilet among bushes! No bees and no honey, but lovely intact comb. How's that for an amazing find...whether in Alaska or Baja, bees are there! I hope to return some day to this Baja site for another hive check.

Back home again on March 5, I find our home bees still hunkered down for winter. Although I hear a quiet buzz after a soft knock on the outside of the hive, no bees are flying during these cooler days. The dandelions began to bloom while I was away so honey flow is not far off.

I and many others are looking forward to seeing how much honey is left in our top bar hive after winter and harvesting it for a taste. Although that will be really cool, I'm mainly looking forward to learning how well the bees did during this first winter, getting the new Warre hive set up, hanging a swarm collector in a tree, and observing the spring behavior of bees in an established hive. Now that March has begun, it won't be long for the new beginning. What a fantastic year of learning and observing our bees--it all began one short year ago on April 15, 2011.