TO: North Georgia Eskimos!
Just a two pronged note:
A reminder that there is no January meeting. School closed so teachers can recover from New Year’s Eve. Pass word to any beekeepers you are in contact with. I still don’t trust my address list.
That was easy
What a wild start to winter. And it is not over. Without consulting the “wooly worm” caterpillars, my hunch is holding true. It will take 6 more months and a government study group to verify if we have weather in the North Georgia mountains.
I had mentioned that October is supposed to be the driest month of the year. But the periodic drought started in early September and 2 weeks of October. “Has the weather pattern moved a month earlier?” It seems to have. “Chicago Zephers” are not unusual mid-January to mid-February. This time it came the end of December, a month early. Will we have one or two “normal” snap deep cold spells in January and February? Or, will spring come a month early, meaning first of March. There is usually a sub-freezing 3-5 days the last week of March. I hope for early spring.
These snap week long cold spells are hard on the queen. Some colonies were brooding when this snap hit. That is not unusual. I have had queen brood to mid-January and then stop for 2 weeks because of the cold. Then be brooding again by the end of February producing nice brood pattern before the March frost.
What makes this bad is brooding consumes large quantities of stored food. With no or little pollen and nectar available for replacement the colony starves to death in late January or February. Be prepared to feed syrup and pollen when the temperature goes above 45°. There is nothing we can due except pray until the cluster loosens up. Then have the feed already on the colony. The bees will do purging flights at 45° and maybe carry some pollen back to the hive.
Prolonged cold spells will slow the blooming of the January and February flowers. Yes, they are out there. Pussy willow, Alder, Henbit (a little later), Mahonia Holly, American Holly (later), Just enough to keep the bees alive, maybe.
Check the Georgia Beekeepers’ Association calendar for the February Spring Meeting. I think in Gainesville.
Mid May is the Young Harris/UGA Bee Institute at Young Harris College in Young Harris, Georgia.
These are good opportunities to get products from the supply houses. It costs extra to ship heavy or bulky items like woodwork and canning bottles.
Our next meeting is February 7.
Get your colony orders in now. Packages $100 and Nucs $135. Available at my house 26 March, Weather permitting. For future reference my address is Glen Henderson 338 Epps Mtn Ln Blairsville GA 30512 Just 3 miles south of town off Hwy 129 headed to Cleveland GA and Vogel State Park.
Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas
Stay Happy and Healthy
Glen