BusyKnight exclaims...
>Into the bees today here in the Lone Star State where
>it hit 75 deg F today and gona *bee* 80 deg F tomorrow.
>
>Apistan in; entrance reducers out and Fire Ants starting
>their mounds.  Still lots of honey in the hives.  We'll
>have a couple more days of some chilly weather but for the
>most part: winter is over!
>
>Hives are FULL of bees and some patches of brood have begun
>developing.  I'll be putting on some supers of foundation
>and pollen traps in a week or two.  We are about one month
>away from the beginning of the prime swarmming season.  It
>usually lasts about six weeks here in north Tejas.
 
As a hobbyist entering my second year, I'd like to start off right but have
some concerns. Frequent mention has been made that the Apistan strips should
not be left in over the winter but I have done that(it got cold shortly
after I put them in and has reached 50F for the first time today---I was
afraid opening the hive to remove the strips would bother the cluster and
chill the hive). The bees are everywhere today(though there appear to be no
blooms for them to access and they are a bit of a nuisance)and in another
week crocus and daffodil will bloom. Should I tilt up my upper brood chamber
on the next 50 degree day and remove the strips? Should I feed? ...or should
I leave well enough alone. I expect they have adequate honey stores as I
left them with 2 large broodchambers and half a shallow super over the
winter. Any advice?
 
I'm at 49 degrees north latitude on the Pacific Coast(opposite Victoria, BC)
and January has averaged close to 33F and wet. Its beginning to warm up but
spring tends to be cool (40-60 degrees) here.
 
...boulder
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...thou art not here for ease or sin,
but manhood's noble crown to win.
 
Through passion's fires are in the soul
thy spirit can their flames control;
though tempters strong  beset thy way,
thy spirit is more strong than they.
 
Go on from innocence of youth
to manyly pureness, manly truth;
God's angels still are near to save,
and God himself doth help the brave.
 
Then forth to life, oh! child of earth
be worthy of thy heavenly birth;
for noble service thou art here,
thy brother help, thy God revere!
 
-Samuel Longfellow
 
 
 
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