Ahhhhh, now I need a cigarette (proverbially speaking, that is)!

AliciaH · February 03, 2012, 09:14:22 PM

Western Washington...high 50s, sunny, no wind...you KNOW I had to crack open a hive, right? And glad I did! I had a couple of hives that had depleted their immediate stores, so I moved food frames in closer to the cluster.

But the REAL fun was the hives that still had pollen vs. the hives that didn't. I mean, we talk about it here, and we learn about the need for pollen to rear brood in our clubs and books, but to get the pleasure of being in the hives at this time of year and seeing that all in action...Priceless! My hives that had pollen already have capped brood. Those that don't are just laying eggs (they're bringing it in, though).

Between seeing all that AND the pleasure of having gotten my "fix" with a few inspections, I'm ready to put my feet up for the night! Life was good today!

yockey5 · February 03, 2012, 09:23:40 PM

Not even close to that time here.

Glad you had a good bee time today.

AllenF · February 04, 2012, 09:28:11 AM

I seen some cherries blooming yesterday with all the warm weather we have been having down here.

Buzzen · February 05, 2012, 11:23:37 PM

I've got probably 3 more months. You guys are lucky!

AliciaH · February 06, 2012, 12:03:07 AM

I thought we'd be out awhile, too, but then this window sailed in! I guess it's just the year for wierd weather, since it usually doesn't happen. It was just fun be able to see what's going on in the hives at a time when we don't usually get the priviledge. Being February, though, it could all turn back around quickly.... :-\

I just wish we could all have good weather all at the same time. Wouldn't it be fun to celebrate that?

caticind · February 07, 2012, 09:03:04 PM

Maple pollen coming in by the basketful here. Plums and cherries started blooming sporadically three weeks ago and are still at it. Daffodils are blooming too. No dandelions yet. Lows near freezing, highs in the mid to upper 50s.........pretty much all winter, actually. Seriously unseasonably warm!

AliciaH · February 08, 2012, 12:51:03 PM

"Unseasonably warm" at this time of year, regardless of your region, scares me. It's not uncommon for the PNW to get slammed in February, and after for that matter.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for everyone's early fruit tree blooms!

BeeMaster2 · February 08, 2012, 01:24:13 PM

My bees are about ready to swarm. I had to add a second super to my main hive and i removed a frame of brood and replace it with a deep foundation. That slowed them down a little bit. Used the brood to give the OV hive some bees. 2 weeks ago I forced the bees, that I got in the squirrel box last November, to enter and exit through the medium super, it took 3 days for them to get used to it. They had completely filled the squirrel box. I would like to move them to a langstroth but we could have a bad cold spell and day. We will be in the 30's on Monday. This weekend I will open the medium to see if they are filling it. I am hoping the queen fills it full of brood. We have pollen and nectar coming in.
Jim

The Bix · February 08, 2012, 09:55:45 PM

Quote from: AliciaH on February 03, 2012, 09:14:22 PM
Western Washington...high 50s, sunny, no wind...

Nice! Still below 20 degrees with 2' of snow on the ground SE of Denver. Enjoy! :)

caticind · February 09, 2012, 11:53:03 AM

Thanks for the good wishes AliciaH! The girls could make it through a surprise snow just fine, and we do sometimes get them in late Feb or March. I am mainly concerned that with the trees blooming willy-nilly that our big flows will get smeared out over time and the bees won't be triggered to forage efficiently.