Spring is finally arriving and there's a few dandelions open around my place. My neighbor's flowering crab is in full bloom, and I noticed the dogwoods are starting to bloom. The blossoms on my redbud and pear trees should be open in about 3 days. And the barn swallows that return every year arrived at 6:30 this morning. All is well when the swallows arrive. Most of my bees have been building slowly, probably due to lack of pollen, but I had to split one of my survivor colonies two weeks ago as it was getting ready to swarm. It was my first check of the season and there were 8 or 9 capped swarm cells, and half a dozen supercedure cells with larvae. I thought it was strange that they'd be thinking about swarming with such scarce resources, but what do I know? I didn't want to lose them so I did a walk-away split, and this weekend I'll check to see if both are queenright. If not, I'll give them a frame of brood to inhibit workers from laying, and they can make a queen. I want to remind everyone about Walleye Weekend, June 8 - 10. I have attached the sign-up sheet that shows the time blocks, and we need to fill this in by, or at, our April 19 meeting. I'm sure Laurie will be there with an official sign-up sheet, and we'll get this together. I encourage all members to sign up for a block (or two), and not to hold back because you feel that you don't know enough, or have enough experience. What can be a better learning time than hanging out with other beekeepers and sharing stories? Parking will be free. (If you can't make the meeting, please send an email to this address and we'll get you on the list.) I want to inform everyone that the upcoming Wisconsin Honey Producers Association Summer Meeting is July 14 at the Lions Hall, 145 Dearborn Street in Redgranite. Registration starts at 8 a.m., and the Program begins at 9 a.m. Dr. Dennis vanEngelsdorp is the keynote speaker and he will be speaking on honeybee health. Google his name and you'll find that he is deeply involved in the things we want, and need, to know. You do not need to be a member of the WHPA to attend, but there is a $20.00 cover charge (member or not) and it includes a catered lunch. Just show up with a Jackson and you're in. No preregistration. I hope the 2018 season is kinder to us and our honeybees than the 2017 season was. It's starting out weird, but we can't control Mother Nature. Driving to work today I noticed that not one field has been plowed yet. We're not the only ones that are behind. Best wishes, and we'll talk about splits and hive reversals on May 19. Meeting is at the Caestecker Library (Big Room) in Green Lake, 9:30 a.m. Gerard
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ECWBA NewsletterSince 2009 Archives
March 2019
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