Winter/Spring 2008
On the last day of December 2007 we fed our two surviving hives some candy to see them through the Winter.
A mild January was followed by snow in March and it snowed at Easter.
Snow in April!!
The weather forcast for Easter 2008: Snow & rain all week!!
This is very bad for the bees. It wasn’t until 26th April before we did our first inspection. One hive had not survived the bad Winter, we are also worried that we may have damaged the other queen as she doesn’t look so well.
First inspections of our two surviving hives
On 8th May Dad and Paul carried out the first inspection at Flaxton. Two small colonies had survived the Winter.
Flaxton Inspection May 08
In early May a swarm landed on the fence but did not stay. Later we noticed that the hive that had not survived the winter now had occupants so it looked as if the swarm had moved in.
Small Swarm on fence being coaxed into a box.