Proper ventilation is important for bee colonies year round but can be especially critical in the winter. In the PNW, moisture, rather than cold temperatures, is a major contributor to decreased survival. Bees can amazingly well tolerate cold but less so when they are wet. High hive moisture is due to the condensation of water […]
Winterizing bee hives Read More »
Proper ventilation is important for bee colonies year round but can be especially critical in the winter. In the PNW, moisture, rather than cold temperatures, is a major contributor to decreased survival. Bees can amazingly well tolerate cold but less so when they are wet. High hive moisture is due to the condensation of water
Winterizing bee hives Read More »
Winter? It seems like a long time before we think about winter but in reality it is not so far away IF we plan to do something about mites. NOW (end August/early September) is the proper time to sample colonies to determine risk level and make mite control decisions, if you wish to do so.
Winter (mite) Preparations Read More »
Winter? It seems like a long time before we think about winter but in reality it is not so far away IF we plan to do something about mites. NOW (end August/early September) is the proper time to sample colonies to determine risk level and make mite control decisions, if you wish to do so.
Winter (mite) Preparations Read More »
Bees are really amazing creatures. IF they survive winter, a big IF these days, their spring colony expansion is one of the incredible features of a bee colony. Given pollen, good enough weather to forage and a healthy population, the colony will expand from a cluster the size of a softball to a brood area
Softball to Exercise ball – spring colony expansion Read More »
Bees are really amazing creatures. IF they survive winter, a big IF these days, their spring colony expansion is one of the incredible features of a bee colony. Given pollen, good enough weather to forage and a healthy population, the colony will expand from a cluster the size of a softball to a brood area
Softball to Exercise ball – spring colony expansion Read More »
May and Memorial Day bracket this busy bee month. I start analyzing the pnwhoneybeesurvey responses this month, including those from WVBA members. Results will be posted as soon as I can get them gathered and analyzed. Thanks to all who filled in a survey. In May, bee-wise, we should have strong colonies. Some (or most)
So what is your May plan? Read More »
May and Memorial Day bracket this busy bee month. I start analyzing the pnwhoneybeesurvey responses this month, including those from WVBA members. Results will be posted as soon as I can get them gathered and analyzed. Thanks to all who filled in a survey. In May, bee-wise, we should have strong colonies. Some (or most)
So what is your May plan? Read More »
April is survey month. I hope you have or will complete a survey on overwintering losses/successes and what you have been doing for varroa management. It should take no more than 10 minutes to complete a survey. Address is www.pnwhoneybeesurvey.com/survey or simply use search engine to find pnwhoneybeesurvey. I really appreciate the number of survey
SO AFTER SURVEY What’s your April Plan? Read More »
April is survey month. I hope you have or will complete a survey on overwintering losses/successes and what you have been doing for varroa management. It should take no more than 10 minutes to complete a survey. Address is www.pnwhoneybeesurvey.com/survey or simply use search engine to find pnwhoneybeesurvey. I really appreciate the number of survey
SO AFTER SURVEY What’s your April Plan? Read More »
