Winter Management Thoughts and Tasks
As the days begin to get longer in January some colonies will begin to brood up a bit. Minor brood rearing is stimulated by warm sunny days paired with winter pollen sources such as witch-hazel and mistletoe and ornamentals. The brood will really kick into gear when red maple blooms in mid-February. Winter hive inspections strike a delicate balance between the risks of stressing the bees and the potential to help them avert crisis. I try to do a brief check on bees about once-a-month November...
