BeeGnus

Here’s my Santa Bee. She was supposed to be my Christmas card, but I never finished the art. This version ended up looking like a fly! Anyway, the idea still might work … maybe next year!

We’re in a period of rain and cold weather, so its been hard to open the bees and see what’s up. Looks like the hive in the lower yard is still doing well and there’s a lot of activity down at Patti’s remaining hive, but it’s probably robbing. I opened it a couple days ago and the was a cluster of bees on the honey frames, but it was probably robbers. I’ll take a better look when the weather warms up and I have a suit on.

Good news! Randy Oliver … an expert beekeeper I met at the WAS (Western Apiculturists Something) Conference in Napa last summer has agreed to sell me package bees in April from his bee yard in Grass Valley. He’s doing a lot of selective breeding for mite resistance, and I hope genetics will help bees survive better here next summer.

I’m on a trip to Kentucky and Ohio where my family lives, but did a little bee work before I left. The weather in northern California has been lovely, and there are plenty of flowers in bloom for the bees!

Hive 1: Still poking along with no sign of increased population. I have a super on it just in case I might at least get some honey.

Hive 2: Package bees still booming, and appear to have had a hatch last week. I added second deep June 2, including 3 frames of built comb with some honey left. Will check their progress when I get home from a road trip this week.

Hive 4: Ran out of time to check the progress in their 9-frame medium super before I left, will do so when I return.

I had 2 of 4 hives survive the winter — not good, but one more than last year. Here is their status:

• Hive one: In year 2 after a swarm moved into a dead hive box. It was my big honey producer last year and seemed to be doing well and have plenty of honey stored until March, when the population dropped off big time. There is still a colony in there, but it’s not doing well. Unless there’s a big buildup soon, they will have missed the nectar flow here, and probably won’t make it.
• Hive 2: A new package this year from Taber’s Honeybee Genetics in Vacaville. Installed in mostly built-out comb April 9, and doing well so far.
• Hive 3: Did well until March, when they disappeared, totally, leaving honey and clean comb behind. No sign of disease. Prior to the abscond, I think they lost their queen, and I was unable to replace her before laying workers took over.
• Hive 4: In year 2, package bees that produced no extra honey last year, but doing well this year. I put a super on 2 weeks ago, and will check this weekend.