The Old Drone's wisdom and knowledge is so true; the bloom of the maple is indeed the big kickoff of spring. And, the end of the maple bloom very often does bring about a period of nectar dearth unless the weather is kind with warm sunny days bringing forth a continuation from the maple bloom to the main honey flow. But sadly, often there is a period of nectar dearth at the end of the maple bloom; and, at times strong healthy hives will die from overextending themselves raising their brood. There are also periods of nectar dearth during the maple bloom caused by weather that is just as devastating to the colony and the beekeeper. February, March and April bring shorter nights and longer days of gradually increasing temperatures leading to shirtsleeve weather followed by long periods of cold or cool, inclement and unsettled weather. The influx of stores and activity generated by several days of increased temperatures with good flying will stimulate a crescendo of laying by the queen. During this time over most of eastern North America if not the entire Northern Hemisphere the natural progression of weather is a Cold front followed by High Pressure followed by a Cold front. The High-pressure area first brings cold dry air from the north followed by warm southerly winds as the center of the High drifts east. Days become warmer with more southerly winds until again a Cold front approaches which likely brings precipitation in the form of rain, ice, sleet, or snow, and cold overcast weather. Often the weather will keep bees from flying for as much as a week or longer. If the weather keeps the bees from flying then great reserves of pollen, nectar, and honey will be consumed in order to feed brood and heat the increased area of comb covered by the brood. In just a few days what was once a heavy hive will be light. Knowing just how much stores are in your hives is of utmost importance. A strong hive that is raising brood can consume five or more pounds of honey in a day; that's 35 pounds or more in a week! That's why it might be best to check your hives for weight at least once a week or more often in times of cold and unsettled weather after the red maple has begun to bloom. The Bee-List archives, http://listserv.albany.edu:8080/cgi-bin/wa?S1=bee-l and Allen Dick's website, http://www.honeybeeworld.com both have extensive information on the supplemental feeding of honeybees. IMHO feeding inside the hive is the most efficient and prudent method of supplemental feeding. Food needs to be in close proximity to the cluster in order for the bees to use it; syrup or dry pollen substitute placed outside the hive but within the beeyard will instill robbing. When syrup or dry pollen substitute is placed in a feeding station farther than about 100 meters from the yard bees will treat the feeding station as a natural food source and be less inclined to rob other hives within an apiary; however, more energy is expended in retrieving these stores than if they were placed within the hive. The feeding station is open to feral hives as well which not only can lead to transfer of disease, but further reduce the efficiency of feeding. I was not able to read Mr. Green's posting until I had returned home from a daytrip the following day to Smithfield, North Carolina, about 135 miles or so as the crow flies north from his home in the midlands of the Coastal Plain of South Carolina. While in Smithfield I had searched judiciously for the maple bloom, only when I had traveled down the road some 40 miles south to my alma mater in a little place called Buie's Creek did I observe just a very few blossoms unfolded only upon one branch of many maple trees. Spring is slow to come to the Carolinas this year, I hope that my own bees and yours are doing ok. Chuck Norton Reidsville, NC (Where it is 22 degrees on a Sunday afternoon with sleet and freezing rain) :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: BEE-L has no "Frequently Asked Questions", but any topic can be reviewed by searching the archives. The archives are the FAQ! BEE-L archives can be searched at: http://listserv.albany.edu:8080/cgi-bin/wa?S1=bee-l ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::