This has been an unusually cool and wet winter and spring in California.
 The almond bloom was extended longer than at any time in memory.  The
Sierra snowpack is at record levels.  Most crop planting has been delayed,
and bloom has been delayed.

The big problem for beekeepers is lack of warm flight days, especially at
the higher elevations where I live.  The wildflower bloom is great, due to
the unusually high soil moisture, but the plants do not seem to be putting
out much nectar, and the bees have only limited windows for flight.  So the
colonies are getting adequate pollen, but can't maintain their weight.  Many
colonies (not mine) have starved, during what normally would be good
honeyflows.

We have pulled off honey supers, and are throwing emergency feed to the
hives!  The weather forecast for the next week is cool with rain every day,
compared to historical averages of upper 70's and zero precipitation.

-- 
Randy Oliver
Grass Valley, CA
ScientificBeekeeping.com

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