Bees Being Bees!

The weather is still pretty strange this spring but our bees seem to be doing just fine. In Chanhassen, the four hives are bringing some nectar and pollen. The bee population is increasing rapidly in each hive. Friday May 25, 2012 when we visited them, we gave them 1/2 gallon of sugar syrup each, they had completely drank their almost full pails from last week. They still had a bit of pollen patties , so none were added.

The Russian bees of Chanhassen, were very calm and humming in unison. So much so that 2 young ladies came out, and were watching us only 3-4 feet away, wearing shorts and flip-flops! Not a problem, the bees were more interested in their own little world. We took the time to show them, a couple of frames with bees, larvae and eggs. I think they also saw the queen very quickly. The best was when they enjoy tasting fresh honey by dipping their finger on a frame full of honey :) Always wonderful to spread our love for the bees.

It might seems odd that the honeybees still take the food that we give them, but with all the stormy weather that we had recently, and still the small amount of foragers...the honeybees don't have to go too far to eat during those "tricky" days.

Right now, there are many flowers in bloom : Yellow sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis),  White rattlesnake root (Prenanthes alba), Leafy spurge (Euphrobia esula) and Garlic mustard (Alliaria peliolata). Those are the ones that I have noticed on roadsides, there are many more.

So, nothing special to report, just that everything is going well...can't complaint!