Still Winter-land in Minnesota!

This colony is dead...see snow on top

It is March, soon spring will be here!  However, it is a bit discouraging when it snows 3-4 inches and then it is barely above 0F! (-1F, -18F) as I write.

However there is always hope in Minnesota... we should rebound and be in the 40's, and maybe a 50 could manifests itself,  in a few days. The long term forecast calls for a beautiful warming next week...almost like spring! That would be more than welcoming for our honey bees.

The queen will start laying her eggs as the temperatures climb. The workers will be busy warming the brood, and making sure the "left over" food form fall is still available. 

I will check my colonies, probably Monday (it is supposed to be 47F , 8C) and sunny. I will give them a pollen patty.

March is always a difficult month for bees and beekeepers; we have to help the bees just enough to close the gap between the end of winter and the beginning of spring. So, think about this for a minute: calculated feeding is necessary here in our part of the world. Pollen and nectar will be making an appearance, we will then  be able to  breath a big sigh of relieve; we would have done it.

Happy Beekeeping!