Like several farmers we’ve spoken to, our honeybees didn’t fair well this winter.  We had eight hives and lost all but two.

Bee house and time to check the hives spring 2013.

One of the two hives is very active and the maple tree pollen is heavy this year.  The other hive has never been real strong and swarms itself to death every spring.  We are going to try a couple of changes this year, one of which, is bringing in a new queen.

The first hive is weak but alive and the third hive is strong and working hard.

Time will tell but we have to work fast since the orchards are full of apple buds and will blossom full in the next week to 10 days.

The bees are cleaning house much like I do in the spring.  This is one the hives that didn’t make it during the winter.

Hubby has cleaned up all the hives that didn’t make it and have them ready to try to catch some swarms a little later.  The hives that made it will now have two chambers for raising brood and when the right bloom pops out in the forest fresh supers will be placed on each hive for honey making.

We have so many honey customers that depend on us each year to provide the liquid gold that is a big commodity these days.  I’ve been asked to place it in our local artisan center but it doesn’t last long enough to get it there.  Now, we sit back and wait and pray that we will be blessed with lots of the sweet nectar.

2012 Gold

Beautiful quart jars of honey and honeycomb straight from the hives.