Warm...HOT Spring continues..

The colonies have all grown in size and are busy doing the things bees do.  Gathering nectar, pollen, propolis and water .  Warm weather has caused many of the forage sources to bloom early.

New package bees

I purchased a few 3# packages of bees to "beef up" my hive numbers. It is always exciting to have new arrivals !

Chickweed offers sweet rewards...

This worker bee is having a feast on the chickweed...seems a shame to cut the yard !

Red Maples in spring help feed bees !

A warmer than usual Spring saved many colonies from starvation.  The bees love to collect pollen and nectar from Red Maple blooms in early Spring.

It was not a good winter !

I paid for the mistake of taking colonies into fall with too small a cluster.  I lost more colonies than I should have but fewer than I "might have" if the winter had been colder.  Bees are off to a good start for Spring, lets hope for the best !