Looks like the dry false Spring is officially over now and I made less than dismal progress on the fence and pasture project. We been getting rains off and on for the last few days and the weather forecast doesn't seem to think the frequent rains are going to stop. They say March is "in like a lion out like a lamb" but my experience around here seems to usually be the opposite at least as far as storms go.
If this is the official start of the rainy season I am going to be far behind before I can get out and do much now.
Up until today I have been worried a bit though because although it has been relatively warm by my reckoning the professional weather guys, my wife, and the local flora don't seem to agree with me and nothing has really been blooming. I think I actually lost a hive although I haven't been down there today to verify it. The other day it appeared to have died out and been robbed of all remaining stores by it's neighbors but I didn't have my hive tool or veil to open it up and be sure.
Bee keepers don't call it harsh March without a reason. The stores are getting low and nothing is really producing yet and a few days locked inside the hive can cause the girls to starve. With all the rain I been too lazy to walk back there and see but I need to add that to the list for tomorrow if I can.
This morning however when the sun broke out for a bit and it warmed a little the Boxelder trees around the place became alive with buzzing. The bees were working the blooms heavily. If you look closely at the top picture you can see a little spec which is a forager moving from bloom to bloom. As I figure it we are about a week behind the blooming dates of last year now. Hopefully this will mean we won't lose some fruit blooms to frost this year.
Later this afternoon before it started raining AGAIN, I actually saw my first Red Winged Blackbird which is another herald of Spring around here. Although the signs are all here now it is suppose to cool off again tomorrow and maybe a bit of snow by Saturday.
Looks like the crazy rainy Springtime flip flop weather is back once again. The ground may not dry now until June.
Keep Prepping Everyone!!!!
It's a tough time of year. We're finally starting to get a little grass growth and the goats and chickens are certainly happier for it.
ReplyDeleteLeigh - I noticed our grass was growing today. Another week or so and I might be mowing. I hate mowing. It takes up so much time.
DeleteThe only critters we have out on the grass right now are the horses. The sheep are all dry lotted until after lambing season is over.
You may well be right about a false start to Spring PP, we have just had a few days of rising temperature and no rain then last night the temperature dropped and today is grey and very wet.
ReplyDeleteA friend of mine who started keeping Bee's last year has lost both colonies to what his 'expert' friend has put down to starvation. There was plenty of stored honey and pollen yet both colonies were just in one area of their respective hives with most of them head first in cells?
JW - That happens when a cold snap makes it impossible for the bees to break their ball long enough to move to more honey stores. It can also happen when the ball gets too small and is unable to keep itself warm. One reason I wrap my hives in foam insulated sheets for Winter and use wind breaks. Most Winters they may not need em but when we get long cold snaps it makes it that much easier on the bees.
DeleteWe got over 2 inches of rain overnight and it's cooled down considerably. Crazy Spring weather.
the weather folks are on the same level as the pols in D.C. Who can you trust??
ReplyDeleteRob - Exactly. The only ones that really matter are my Wife and what my eyes tell me in that order :)
DeletePP, next year be sure to put a ventilation box on top of your insulated hives. I lost several colonies because I didn't have any ventilation holes allowing the moisture to escape from the hive. This year, I am papering one uninsulated colony that had loads of moisture in it. So there was plenty of mold and such inside when I opened it for inspection and not as many bees as needed this time of the year. After cleaning the mold out, I gave them some honey to help them get going again.
ReplyDeleteThere are several examples online.
Dave
Dave - All my hives are vented. My deep Winter top covers like the Brushy Mountain ones all have the top vent hole and the large hives that I don't need to feed all get top entrances when I add the second brood chamber. I prefer top entrances over bottom ones. Besides allowing ventilation it also means I don't have to go clean the bottom entrance holes after a deep snow.
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