The snow is [long] gone and the spring blossoms have been a welcomed arrival for the honeybees. The hives seem to be finding abundant sources of pollen and nectar in the area and it’s a joy to see the different colors of the pollen being stored in the honeycomb.
Locust blossoms, ready to open
It’s also wonderful to see that the bees are bringing in nectar and curing honey in their brood chambers to be consumed later. It is a great sight when the frame has its arc of honey, followed by an arc of pollen followed by capped brood, larvae and eggs! The queen is laying well and the workers are actively working the hive to its fullest.
So it’s no wonder that it’s time to add a super for the next brood chamber, and, if really lucky or off to an earlier start, a honey super! This was my joy this week as I was able to add a second brood box to a hive that needed a little more time than the others and then a honey super on three hives that had already been working seven or eight frames in their second box.
I see that the locust trees are ready to burst open and I am hopeful that the bees will avail themselves of them as they are robust and really close to home. I can’t wait to watch the hive continue to build its brood and its honey stores . . . with maybe a little extra for us!
-Karen