Dave recently queried about "Kill Rates" - I prefer to call it the "winter survival rate"!! Anyhow, I got into my hives over the weekend - 9 out of 10 hives have made it so far. The first hints of pollen are coming in, in spite of some snow still on the ground. The snow is finally starting to melt due to warmer temperatures, although the weathermen are predicting cooler temps this week, with possible sleet/snow tomorrow (boo!), so spring hasn't really started here (yet). I'm starting to get optimistic, though, that I will have 8 or 9 hives to start this season with. Rick Hough, a beekeeper from Hamilton, MA, USA (NE of Boston) [log in to unmask]