Dear bee folks

We had an extraordinarily cold winter here in coastal South Carolina. But it 
was steady cold; no real storms for January and February, just a lot of rain 
and a touch of snow. March stayed cold as well, warming much slower than 
normal. We are now in rain deficit again.

In recent winters we've had warm spells alternating with cold throughout 
winter. I think the bees on average burn up more feed looking for feed, than 
they bring in during the warm spells.  Also, we've had many perennial nectar 
sources that progress too soon into spring and then get hit by freezes and 
frosts during bloom.  This year with steadier progress toward spring, we 
haven't had those problems and nectar is now pouring in.

All my hives came through winter in excellent shape. They've had no mite 
treatments in three years, but had very low varroa rates. There were a 
couple hive beetles, but they don't seem to be a problem. Others in the area 
had very good survival. Bees are very swarmy.

Apple blosssom is finishing (I have several low-chill apples in my yard). 
Some tomatoes are knee high in the garden, We are already harvesting turnip 
greens, overwintered broccoli, and radishes. I've already mowed my lawn 
twice - love the smell of fresh mown grass...  Life is good here.

For nectar, bees are working dewberry and the first blackberry is opening. 
Holly and huckleberry are also open. For eye candy for me, the azaleas are 
opening. Bee activity on azaleas tends to be mostly bumblebees and 
halictids, though I've seen honeybees visit once in a while. (If we were the 
only place in the world that had azaleas, the whole world would come to see 
them. They are gorgeous!)

On the blog: "Hiving (or not) a nervous swarm!"  Photos and video.

Dave Green
http://pollinator.com/blog/

             ***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software.  For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html

Access BEE-L directly at:
http://community.lsoft.com/scripts/wa-LSOFTDONATIONS.exe?A0=BEE-L