I am far eastern Mid-West.  South-Western, Ohio.

We've seen a whole lot of rain, but most it keeps missing the core  
Ohio Valley region.  Its been coming in waves along with drops in  
temperatures as well.  All of our apples have bloomed and the bees  
were on them but bloom was retarded a fair amount as a result of rain  
and cold.  Waiting on Black Locust, which is almost here, from what I  
can tell maybe another four or five days.  Honey Suckle is beginning  
to bloom and I have probably the largest batch of dandelion forage  
(nectar and pollen that I have seen so far) to the point that wax is  
simply YELLOW.  I have 300 acres and I am surrounded by farms that do  
not spray pesticides.  Most is corn and soybean BUT most of the ground  
is no till and or late planting so our forage crop is massively  
diverse here and covers approximately 2 to 3 acres of valley.   
Temperatures have been high though for the most part 70s and 80s,  
which is kicking everything off a bit early.  My colonies further  
north of the Ohio are playing catch-up with those on our farm.

So, brood build up has been happening fast.  Even if rain decreases  
forage material from trees I see bees simply covering low lying ground  
cover that is flowering.  Build up has been faster than last year.   
I'd dare say things are screaming along, which is good because the  
last three years we have had hard droughts starting mid to late July  
and running till October.

Swarms calls are also coming in which we enjoy doing as part of  
community out reach.  Being inside the beltway and just outside the  
Cincinnati area means an urban environment.   Bees in the yards and  
catching swarms with an audience.  The kids love it, the parents take  
pictures, and we slowly gain more honey customers willing to pay top  
dollar (6 to 9 a pound) for honey.   Lots of swarms...most from "wild"  
colonies we find in trees next door or in the back yard that they  
never knew were there.

Cheers!

Richard Stewart
Carriage House Farm
North Bend, Ohio

An Ohio Century Farm Est. 1855

(513) 967-1106
http://www.carriagehousefarmllc.com
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