Bee Lore

I visited the bees again today.  It was a beautiful spring day – about 8 degrees Centigrade.  I approached the hive in anticipation……hoping that they had overwintered well.  What a pleasant surprise to see the bees coming in and out of the small entrance – almost as busy as on a summer’s day.  The snowdrops are out at the moment – but whatever they were foraging for, they were busy collecting it!  The entrance was still showing the damage from the woodpecker or mouse – but there was no additional damage since last November.  I briefly lifted the top of the hive and looked inside through the glass crown board.  The bees looked very healthy and active.  I hefted the hive and there were good stores still.  So Faith (the name of the hive) has done well – and the Queen is now entering her third year.  I expect I will have to do an artificial swarm in the Spring just to make sure she does not swarm.  I am also hoping to import two new colonies from a beekeeper who lives in the next door county.  What a joy it was to see and bee with the bees again after such a long break!