Hello All
Spring is on its way. Here in the carolinas the maples are fat and ready
to bloom, in a couple a more 60 degree days. I open hives yesterday
(sunday) and found fresh queen cells on the bottom bars of some hives,
swarming planned? maybe, but ill split in a week or so- probably a couple
weeks because the colonies are not boiling over yet.  Last year first
swarms came on the first of march. First supers for extra room to go on
this week. Ill post as the weather  progresses,seems as the new england
area just got a blast of last minute winter.
On the subject of bottom screens, last year i made 9 of them, just took
1x2 and made a frame then stapled the screen on and trimmed then put a
3/4 x 3/4 around the rim on theframe.  I havnt lost any colonies yet and
usually have lost 2 or 3 out of the 15 to 20 i keep. Ill just have to
make more screen bottoms for the rest of them.
I have a question--- Has anyone who uses the menthol and oil towels used
them in the spring? It seems maybe a waste of time with the trachial
mites life cycle. Any comments welcome.
Al Boehm
Columbus NC
at the nc sc border