Winter is almost done!!

[uglyfrozenfish]

There is still 4-6 inches of snow on the ground here but:

The maple sap started running and fresh maple syrup is a couple of weeks away. 

The anticipation of new bees arriving for the new growing season!!

The first flowers are just starting to poke their heads out of the ground.

[danno]

the groundhog lied.   Now there saying it wont get warm until April

[PeeVee]

I've been seeing a lot of dead skunks on the road. And yesterday a dead ground hog  :'((serves him right!)

Spring is on the way :-D

[Scadsobees]

Haven't seen any dead skunks, but I sure have been smelling plenty of them!!!

[danno]

It the skunks breeding season.  Actually started in Feb but runs through March.  When you only get one chance a year it doesn't matter what the weather is doing

[skflyfish]

Actually sap started flowing around Feb 14th. I have boiled three times already. 2/17, 2/25 and 3/2.

More snow our way and flowers are still under the white stuff. Darn.  :'(

I agree with Danno, we might not see spring until April. I am still waiting for Piers Corbyn to come out with his March USA forecast.

Jay

[Michael Bach]

For once I am jealous of you Minnesota pals.

I was at the bee yard today.  It was about 22°, sunny, and windy.  I was lucky to have the snow hard enough that I could walk on top of it for the most part.  The one time I did fall though....it went up to my hip.

We still have about 3 feet on the ground.

I have a new bee yard starting up in April.  All the equipment is in my cellar.  If the bees hold schedule to the first week of April I might not be able to get them installed at the bee yard.

We will see.

[T Beek]

No skunks here yet, not even a smell, no sap running either (first time in many years w/out an early syrup harvest :'(), some popples 'appear to be starting' to bud and there's lots of snow on the ground (good thing too).  

Last night was first in nearly a week where temps did NOT go below zeroF.  

My Long Hive may have bit the dust (couldn't hear them w/ the stethescope today).  Will know for sure as soon as temps get above freezing and can take a look, maybe the weekend.  

Xin Loi.

thomas

[NasalSponge]

We are having a bumper crop year for skunks and I noticed the willows are beginning to bloom as well as those evil bradfords.

[sterling]

Here in middle Tn. we had high 60's today. Bees are bringing pollen by the tons yellow, orange, green and white.

[DCHoneybees]

What is the problem with Bradford pears?  We have a ton of them in DC...

[skatesailor]

Breezy, High of 25 degrees, and 18 to 24 inches of ice and snow giving 99% coverage. Warmer but wetter weather in the forecast. Maples showing red tips. Spring won't be here soon enough.

[NasalSponge]

Bradford pear is not a significant nectar source for bees... :(

[uglyfrozenfish]

I am jealous Jay,
Me and my friends have had our trees tapped since mid February and didn't get much sap.  They just started running good here.  Looking foreward to our first boil in a week or so. 

Weatherman here says 60 and Tstorms on Tue/Wed.  Followed by more arctic air!

Lee

[danno]

today we woke up to 1/4 of ice covering everything.  Schools used up all there snow days so they are open for business.  Cant get out of my drive to go to work because theres a big yellow bus stuck on the end of my driveway.  I hate this time of year.   

[skflyfish]

Danno, same thing here too. Schhhhhhhhlick outside.

Ugly, I am only tapping two trees (big sap cows) this year and they are right along the White River so maybe that is why mine is flowing a bit more than yours, though I am over an hour north and west of of you. I only use about a gallon a year, and I have a half gallon of syrup already. It is nice cause I can pull the ice out of the buckets and discard it, and boil down concentrate sap. Ratios have been 20 to 25 gallons of sap per gallon of syrup.

Got Piers Corbyn's March USA forecast. Looks like March will go out like a Lion and a pretty active month for weather. April can't come fast enough.  :-D

Jay

[danno]

Danno, same thing here too. Schhhhhhhhlick outside.

Ugly, I am only tapping two trees (big sap cows) this year and they are right along the White River so maybe that is why mine is flowing a bit more than yours, though I am over an hour north and west of of you. I only use about a gallon a year, and I have a half gallon of syrup already. It is nice cause I can pull the ice out of the buckets and discard it, and boil down concentrate sap. Ratios have been 20 to 25 gallons of sap per gallon of syrup.

Got Piers Corbyn's March USA forecast. Looks like March will go out like a Lion and a pretty active month for weather. April can't come fast enough.  :-D

Jay

Jay
Did you mean to say that I am 1 hour north west of you?   I have not tapped any trees yet but will only do 2 or 3 really big guys at the edge of my woods.   This time of year the syrup is so light which many love but I want the darker this year.  I want to make a big batch of maple stout beer plus enough for the family for the next 12 months

[skflyfish]

Danno,

No I was referring my direction from uglyfrozenfish's. I am about an hour south and west east of you.

A maple stout sounds good. I have been reading the home brew thread. My son just started drinking a Ferocious IPA from Midwest he brewed. He loves it. Hmmmm. I have a porter in the queue, maybe I will add some maple to it. Thanks.

Jay

[danno]

I also plan on doing a all grain brew using maple sap instead of hot water.   Not sure what I'll make yet but something very light. (A lawnmower ale)

[T Beek]

We just bottled a 'chinook' IPA.  Gonna boil a Tongue Splitter next week.  Our middle son just brewed his first "all Grain" a dogfishead knock-off. 

We add 'some' honey to every batch :)

thomas