Viability of May Packages in Southern New England?

[tigger]

Apologies if this has been covered a lot, but search didn't turn much up.

I'm starting a couple of hives this year - for all intents and purposes I'm a novice, though I did keep one hive 20+ years ago, and from the reading I've done here and elsewhere this winter, did just about everything wrong with it.

I ordered a couple of packages from one of the well-known Georgia apiaries in late December, and recently received confirmation of the order from them, with a note that the packages would ship May 9th.

The seems kind of late to me from everything I've read. Clearly I won't have any chance of surplus honey this year, which I wasn't expecting anyway, but am a little concerned that starting somewhere around a month behind when I thought I might on undrawn foundation might not give the colonies sufficient time to build up for next winter.

I'm probably overthinking this, but input from those who know bees better than I would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Tim

[BeeAware]

I have started many packages on foundation in May with good success. The only thing is you will have to feed sugar syrup in order to get the combs drawn. I imagine that in your location your flow will just be starting in early May, here mine is half over by then. Good luck.