As the vernal equinox approaches, I like to remind beekeepers that spring can be tricky. If you’re not paying attention, it’s easy to lose a colony to starvation. In spring, several different things happen all at once to overwintered colonies. Most experienced beekeepers know what to look for, but it can be a little overwhelming […] Read more
The beekeeping year can be divided into two halves. One half is characterized by expansion, and the other by contraction. Tomorrow we begin the next phase. Whether you live in the northern hemisphere or the southern, the solstices mark the boundaries, the points at which things begin to change. The most important concept in beekeeping […] Read more
Here in the northern hemisphere, your calendar may tell you it’s the first day of winter, but from the bee’s perspective, it’s actually the first day of spring. Like many plants and animals, bees are highly affected by changes in day length. Immediately after the winter solstice, when the hours of daily sunlight start to […] Read more