Florence, South Carolina broke the all-time temperature record for ANY
date in February today at 86 degrees.  Pears have been blooming for a week,
and peaches are opening.
 
   Honey is pouring in, and strong hives are capping new honey.  Anise
hyssop, redbud, wild mustard and many other flowers are in full bloom.  This
is the earliest spring I have ever seen.  Global warming?
 
   But I am starting to chew my fingernails.  We could easily get a serious
freeze, which would now severely damage all hardwood flower buds, and could
wipe out fruit.  Bees would be hurt bad.
 
    We must now pray for mild weather all through.
 
    I pulled off a little of this new honey, before it gets eaten or
contaminated by later blossom.  I wish I had a small hand extractor, because
there won't be more than 30 or 40 pounds, and it's hard to clear the lines
for that.  But it is VERY nice tasting honey, so we'll probably pack it in
little jars, as long as it holds out, assuming we can figure out a way to
extract it.
 
    BTW, we would be interested in obtaining some cherry honey, which is one
of the best honeys made, but is usually consumed by bees in build up.  Anyone
who is in a cherry orchard; I'd be glad to pay top dollar for a pail or two,
and I can give you some tips on how to get some to save.
 
    Apple blossom is a little easier, as bloom is later and longer, but we'd
love to get some of that too.
 
[log in to unmask]    Dave Green,  PO Box 1200,  Hemingway,  SC
29554        (Dave & Jan's Pollination Service,  Pot o'Gold Honey Co.)
 
Pollination for lay people, students, teachers
....Of bees, beekeepers, and food
http://users.aol.com/queenbjan/primbees.htm
 
Pollination for the pros - those involved in doing it:
Practical Pollination Home Page            Dave & Janice Green
http://users.aol.com/pollinator/polpage1.html
 
Jan's Sweetness and Light         Varietal Honeys and Gift Sets
http://users.aol.com/SweetnessL/sweetlit.htm