Re. Covers and Winter Wraps Quite a bit of research was done in Alberta and some of the other prairie provinces during the 1970's and 80's. (Nelson, Szabo, and others). I distinctly remember that some of the studies concluded that wrapping colonies on the sides is not nearly as important as insulation on top of the colonies. This was particularly valid in southern Alberta. Paul van Westendorp Provincial Apiculturist British Columbia