Greetings from the soggy, icey, snowy, windy Pacific Northwest. I and my
neighbors emerged this afternoon to gather downed branches, patch roofs and
check beehives. Today's temperature felt balmy. While rising air
temperatures are melting our mountain snow pack and causing widespread
flooding along rivers and streams, thankfully, I am one of the fortunate
Oregon residents to have avoided any serious damage from ice, wind, or
floods thus far. The warmer temps gave me an opportunity to check on my two
hives. When I moved to this five-acre farm in July, I located them in a spot
that seemed fairly ideal--southeast exposure but sheltered from east winds
that roar through the Columbia River Gorge in winter, shaded during late
afternoon sun by a large barn, access to a small agricultural valley.  I
placed them on concrete blocks that sat on gravel. However, this is moist
property in a state that received nearly twice its normal rainfall. Their
gravel base is water logged. Today's inspection reveiled some mold on a
number of the frames in the bottom supers and piles of bodies on the bottom
board. I've relocated them several feet to the west inside a horse stall (no
horses). I cleaned both bottom boards and took out frames that looked nasty.
I am hoping any stragglers will find their way to their new location, but
expect to search for a huddled band of adventurers tonight and pop them back
inside the hives. I think their situation is much improved, but I would like
to know about further feeding. I've used both inverted jars of syrup and
interior trough type feeders, but given this year's extreme wetness and the
problems it is causing inside my hives, I'm thinking I'd do better with dry
sugar. Can any of you advise me on how best to provide this? I could mix
patties of shortening and granulated sugar but I've read somewhere that
beekeepers sometimes provide granulated sugar alone. What can you tell a
rubber-booted neophyte about appropriate bee-dining during monsoons?
Marcia Sinclair
Gresham, Oregon
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