Its Official...

KONASDAD · February 05, 2008, 03:37:27 PM

...beekeeping season has begun here! I got stung. The bees were all flying and doing lots of orientation flights and cleaning house. I saw a bee carrying a dead soldier and i like to inspect the dead ones this time of year for signs of disease. I was looking for any lace wing etc. Well the bee carrying the dead one didn't like that i took away the bee and paid me w/ a sting. How sweet it is.. the official start! I might add some pollen patties if its stays warm a day or two more. The girls had a little pollen from heather.

Understudy · February 05, 2008, 03:38:33 PM

Anymore cold weather expected?

Sincerely,
Brendhan

KONASDAD · February 05, 2008, 04:46:34 PM

It is early. Must have been the histamines talking 8-) Probably at least one more big snow storm, a handful of days in mid -forties, a few in the twneties and lots of 30's and raining still left in the winter. It was good to see all hives active. This is the hardest part of winter. They have almost made it, but now is the crucial time as stores dwindle, mites begin to attack, swarming etc.

bassman1977 · February 07, 2008, 02:41:38 PM

Oh yeah, it's close! :) :) I'd say come early to mid-March for us and we'll be out of the woods. I need to get busy and finish clearing out the new bee yard and leveling my cinder blocks so I can get the hives moved.

annette · February 07, 2008, 02:47:05 PM

I think it may have already started here. Temp here in the high 50's low 60's and the bees are out strong flying everywhere. Started my powdered sugar dusting and will start this weekend (if still warm, supposed to get even warmer) to check the brood supers and give them more room.

I am very excited about seeing my 2 hives out looking good. Of course, we can also get more cold weather so have to stay on top of things. Keep checking the honey stores and stay on top of the mites right now.

Yes, Konasdad, we are not out of the woods yet.

Annette

Shizzell · February 07, 2008, 03:14:09 PM

(Sigh) Unfortunately it won't be till march until its above freezing at night. :-\

But, just put in a order for some of my much needed supplies. Atleast I have time.

Good luck everybody, hopefully a prosperous year!

Jake

Brian D. Bray · February 07, 2008, 09:37:37 PM

Quote from: Shizzell on February 07, 2008, 03:14:09 PM
(Sigh) Unfortunately it won't be till march until its above freezing at night. :-\

But, just put in a order for some of my much needed supplies. Atleast I have time.

Good luck everybody, hopefully a prosperous year!

Jake

Same here. I just got my delivery from Western Bee: 10 medium 8 frame supers @ $5.40 each, 4 top entrances (bottom boards to everybody else) @ $3.80 each, and 50 frames @ $.56 each. I also got my Bushy Mountain catolog today. The same supers would have cost me $ 9.95 each, the Bottom boards $8.75, and the frames $ .86 each. Plus the shipping would have been twice as much.

Look for sales and buy in discount quanities. Western Bee usually gives there 1st discount on supers with 6.

pdmattox · February 07, 2008, 09:58:21 PM

I made 25 nucs this past weekend. you got to love florida. 8-)

Understudy · February 07, 2008, 10:12:12 PM

Quote from: pdmattox on February 07, 2008, 09:58:21 PM
I made 25 nucs this past weekend. you got to love florida. 8-)

Shhhh!!! They all want to move here.

;)

Sincerely,
Brendhan

Brian D. Bray · February 07, 2008, 10:17:26 PM

Quote from: Understudy on February 07, 2008, 10:12:12 PM
Quote from: pdmattox on February 07, 2008, 09:58:21 PM
I made 25 nucs this past weekend. you got to love florida. 8-)

Shhhh!!! They all want to move here.

;)

Sincerely,
Brendhan

No, I live on an Island at an elevation higher than most of your state. When the Ice Caps melt you'll be needing a scuba tank to tend your hives and I'll still be high and dry--just have more water between me and the mainland--not a terrible idea.

annette · February 08, 2008, 12:58:03 AM

No, I do not want to live in Florida. Too hot for me. Here we have perfect weather about 10 months out of the year.

Annette

bassman1977 · February 08, 2008, 10:07:45 AM

QuoteShhhh!!! They all want to move here.

You better believe it. I'm sick of this snowy, icy, slushy, cold crap. I'm leaving for FL right now...

NWIN Beekeeper · February 08, 2008, 10:46:43 AM

[I'm sick of this snowy, icy, slushy, cold crap.]

---- Speechless ----- <- (can you believe that?)

KONASDAD · February 08, 2008, 11:36:10 AM

Love the change of seasons myself. Wouln't live w/o it! In fact, if it changed every two months fine by me.(bad for bees). The first snow, or warm spring day are joyous occassions. Fall leaves ahhhhh.

Understudy · February 08, 2008, 12:23:42 PM

Quote from: KONASDAD on February 08, 2008, 11:36:10 AM
Love the change of seasons myself. Wouln't live w/o it! In fact, if it changed every two months fine by me.(bad for bees). The first snow, or warm spring day are joyous occassions. Fall leaves ahhhhh.

Florida has two seasons hot and hotter. :)

Sincerely,
Brendhan

bassman1977 · February 08, 2008, 01:24:26 PM

I lived in Puerto Rico for 2 years. The weather there ranges from hotter to hottest. It was refreshing to see winter again when I came back to PA. It just seems that winter drags on and on, more and more every year. :roll:

Scadsobees · February 08, 2008, 02:23:07 PM

Quote from: KONASDAD on February 08, 2008, 11:36:10 AM
Love the change of seasons myself. Wouln't live w/o it! In fact, if it changed every two months fine by me.(bad for bees). The first snow, or warm spring day are joyous occassions. Fall leaves ahhhhh.

I agree 100%. Nothing like fall, winter, and spring for a little down time. I'd get burned out on any given outdoor activity without winter. I'm a little sad when summer is over but tired of all that summer stuff, but by March I am sooooo ready to start beekeeping and gardening again. Spring fever is starting to set in.

Almost nothing can compare with the elation of spring arriving again and beekeeping starting, seeing the swarms of bees on the warm spring days after a long winter. Pure joy and wonder. Standing by the hives watching the bees, smelling the wet snow melting, grass starting to grow, trees budding, knowing that this is going to be a great year. I wouldn't get that without winter.

Rick

Bennettoid · February 08, 2008, 04:40:28 PM

Quote from: Scadsobees on February 08, 2008, 02:23:07 PM
Quote from: KONASDAD on February 08, 2008, 11:36:10 AM
Love the change of seasons myself. Wouln't live w/o it! In fact, if it changed every two months fine by me.(bad for bees). The first snow, or warm spring day are joyous occassions. Fall leaves ahhhhh.

I agree 100%. Nothing like fall, winter, and spring for a little down time. I'd get burned out on any given outdoor activity without winter. I'm a little sad when summer is over but tired of all that summer stuff, but by March I am sooooo ready to start beekeeping and gardening again. Spring fever is starting to set in.

Almost nothing can compare with the elation of spring arriving again and beekeeping starting, seeing the swarms of bees on the warm spring days after a long winter. Pure joy and wonder. Standing by the hives watching the bees, smelling the wet snow melting, grass starting to grow, trees budding, knowing that this is going to be a great year. I wouldn't get that without winter.

Rick

Sheesh, I actually started to tear up.

Thats beautiful, man, I'm gonna go hug my tree.

Kev · February 08, 2008, 08:46:26 PM

Quote from: Understudy on February 08, 2008, 12:23:42 PM

Florida has two seasons hot and hotter. :)

Sincerely,
Brendhan

So do we: 9 months of winter and 3 months of pretty poor sledding

kev

Ronnie Elliott · February 09, 2008, 03:13:54 AM

The older I get, Northeast Texas gets better every year. We can always travel to the beach for warmer weather, or the mountains for a little snow fun. Our winters sometimes get into the 20's, but after 3-days it's back into the 70's. I agree, Southern Calif. has the best weather, my daughter works for Disneyland, so we can travel to se her also, and then get back to TEXAS.