>
> (where the snow-melt and rain has this season off to a bang -but-
> today just
> lost the apple and peach blossoms to freeze.... same could be said of
> willow
> pollen last week which only lasted a day  before frost nipped the buds)
>
I can share a somewhat similiar sitution up here in Manitoba in which
early April gave us well above average temperatures, giving us
beekeepers good opportunities to open hives to feed with pollen patties
and corn syrup.  The willows were just off to a good start as well as
the maples only to be halted by a persistant low pressure system that is
hovering above Hudson's Bay and sending all this cold weather way down
south.  I'm thankful the bees are still covered with their winter wraps
as we have been getting cold north winds and snow.  The maples are
clinging to their blossoms.   I'm not sure if they'll shed pollen when
the temperature returns to normal.  I'm not concerned with willows, they
are frost hardy and with one day of warmth, they'll shed plenty more
pollen.  This weather illustrates how critical it can be to have
pollen/protein patties given to bees in early spring.  I bought 1000 lbs
for about 400 hives from Global Patties and will certainly buy even more
for next year.  The bees have been critically short on pollen and
without this supplemental protein, they would certainly not be building
as well as they are.

Gilles

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