Bee Chronicles Feb 2022

Snow 2 Jan 2022 was this normal? 28 Jan 2021 14 Feb 2021 Inspected Hives

24 Dec 2020 Snow

I inspected my hives thoroughly on 28 December2021. I mentioned that there is usually a first week of January warm period in which I usually take a look at my queens. Well, it came a week early this year. My next normal inspection period is supposed to be the warm period the first week of February??

2 February, 2021

We are half way through an unsettling winter. It has been too warm! The bees have not flown much for the past 3 weeks (1-20 Jan). This is good, but there have been many afternoons in the high 40^o's. The bees have been confined to mostly short purging flights.

2 March, 2021

The weather outside is "Frightful"! Besides the rain, the wind, and the cold (not too bad for a buffalo), the bees are confused. We are on the eastern edge of a Polar Vortex that hit Texas. Frequently this storm pattern will hit us. As it did 15-16 Jan 2022! There may be another before spring. 13 March 1993, the winter blizzard dumped 3 feet of snow here in the mountains which lasted almost 3 weeks. We can have sleet storms instead of snow. The real damage to the bees is a week of very cold temperatures and little food left in the hive. Prepare to feed if you haven't already.

18 February and the Jonquils have sprung forth.

Back to January 23, 2022

Quince is budding, it usually comes at easter. Hyacinth bud can be seen about ground level, a little early. Four inch tall Jonquils can take the snow normally.

Hellabores are blooming which is normal. Honey bees like them.

There have been miller moths around the porch light before the 3 Jan. cold spell. Beware of wax moths.

19-20 Jan 2022 Freezing night fog coating plants and roads. Rhyme frost settling on bushes at 10AM

Jan 21 2022 Quince blooms haven’t thawed out enough to see if damaged by freezing weather. I need to check the pussy willows to see what affects they have gotten.