Most of us who have been enjoying the truly strange early spring knew that a late freeze risk was possible.  The hard freeze (24 degrees in NE Ohio) predicted for tonight will stress or even kill lightly-stored bee colonies.  They have brooded up and will use their remaining stores to produce metabolic heat needed to incubate the brood.  There is not much the beekeeper can do at this point.  At least the cold snap is suppose to only last a single night.   We all hoped this return to winter would not happen.  Alas…

VSBA, thanks for a wonderful, wonderful event at your Spring, 2012 meeting in Richmond, VA.   (For those who don’t know, just a few days before the event, the meeting site had to be completely changed.)  Everything worked well on essentially no notice.  Great meeting site, great crowd, and good spirits.  What an outstanding bunch of beekeepers!

To date, I am in the minority.  For most of you, Maple is an obvious, viable source of early spring pollen.  I certainly don’t doubt your observations.  On my 4 medium-sized Maples, with binoculars, for about 5 observations on 4 different days, I could see may be 10-15 bees per observation.  No clouds of bees.  No hum of bees.  Just the occasional forager.  Certainly, these casual observations are not science.  There are far too many variables not considered.  In Ohio, beekeepers have the same issue with soybeans.  Rarely, rarely a surplus honey crop from soybean – yet in other states, beekeepers routinely get major crops.   I will be watching my maples again next year.

I just attended a great West Virginia bee meeting at the Heritage Farm Museum and Village sponsored by Cabell Wayne Beekeepers Association.  In the near future, an impressive honey bee exhibit will be included on the grounds.  Spectacular facility and impressive heritage museum.

Maples are in bloom in the Mid West. The flowers are not much to look at.   Is it odd to say that it’s my favorite flower?  Certainly my bees look forward to their blooming.  It’s time to get ready for spring.  I love seeing this blossom each year.

Spring time maple in full bloom

After a (very) fast two weeks, my wife and I are once again home in Ohio.  It will take many months to digest all the experiences, events, photos, and memories.  To all the people who helped us find our way around the two countries and to the individuals who hosted us, we can only offer a humble thanks. It was a beautiful experience. (We saw some beehives, too, but I will talk about that later.)

The Cathedral at Wells, England

The Giant Causeway - A volcanic geologic wonder.