We are seeing the early signs of spring as flowers come into bloom and temperatures begin rising. Foragers have already begun searching for food and collecting pollen, and blooms are already providing nectar. Overwintered colonies with apples resources and strong queens are beginning to grow quickly, increasing the possibility of swimming, while other colonies may be light on resources and require extra help to encourage growth.
We are currently checking the bees to ensure that the queen is laying correctly and brood is present. If the colony’s population is expanding rapidly, we will take precautionary measures to discourage swimming. If the colony seems light on resources, we will supply it with a bit of supplementary feed to keep the hive stable until heavy nectar flow begins.