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3/29/13
44090 Wellington, Ohio (near Cleveland)
Bees are in Silver Maples this morning - 39 degrees, sunny
Just start of Silver Maple bloom.

44090
Wellington, Ohio (near Cleveland)

Snowdrops 3/10/13

5/2/11
44090

North Central Ohio

Crab Apple starting to bloom
Garlic Mustard

Wettest April ever here. Temps remain below normal.

44090
North Central Ohio

4/23/11 First springlike day in the 70s after weeks of rain and temps in 40s & 50s.

All first blooms:

Dandelion
Henbit
Spring Beauty

I've had great results using the Mann Lake feeders, but a few packages I've hived been reluctant to use them (in my experience) when the temps were still too cool at night, or the feeder was above an...

44090

North Central Ohio

Daffodil 4/9
Pussy Willow producing pollen 4/11
Forsythia 4/11

Skunk Cabbage is emerging:o

North Central Ohio
44090
Silver Maple began blooming
3/18/11

I prefer to think of placing swarm traps in terms of where the smell will go. I find likely places where bees will be in the Spring during swarm season and position the swarm traps where the smell...

I've had mice move into swarm traps 10 feet off the ground. I cover all my swarm trap openings with 1/2" hardware cloth.

Last year, Silver Maple pollen was coming in about the middle of March here. I won't put patties on until then. Like Mike G. said, about 3 weeks. I think you'll chill brood this early. Middle of...

The temps are critical, and unless your thermometer is accurate you'll have to experiment to get the right temps. I had a tough time getting the hang of it too. Be sure to let the mixture cool...

I didn't say "hard", I said somewhat dry. Fondant will dry out and become crumbly in about a week or so of air drying. I also reduce the amount of corn syrup in my recipe (sugar, water, and corn...

Wax worms aren't a problem up here in the North until mid summer. Especially after the cold temps we had this winter. I think blocking the entrance is all you need to do until June. Freezing would...

I make my own fondant and let it get somewhat dry. I make it into 1/2 thin sheets and break off pieces that I can put right on the top bars. In the Spring, I mix the leftover fondant with water and...

I use thick layers of newspaper above the hive to help absorb moisture and styrofoam above the newspaper. My upper enterance is only a 3/8 inch hole to help keep mice and wind out of hive, and 3/8...

Here's the link:

http://www.wvu.edu/~agexten/varroa/#

I've been experimenting with this only since Fall. I suspect a feral swarm I caught last summer has Tracheal mites. I can't say for sure...

I just put the honey, still in the jar, in my oven with just the oven light on. After about six hours I turn the light off but leave the honey in the oven (without opening the door). Within 8-12...

I've noticed that the bees in my area generally ignore annuals unless there is little else to forage on, and I really doubt they contribute much nectar or pollen. The large majority of the seeds in...

I agree that this stuff is invasive . . . it's everywhere where I live, spreads like crazy and very difficult to kill, but my bees are all over it in the Spring and I do get a honey crop from it -...

I use this and like it:

http://www.euclidchemical.com/product_detail.asp?id=55&pselect=222

I buy it in 5 gallon pails at commercial masonry supply outlet for concrete contractors. Lasts a long...

I've almost never seen a honeybee on elderberry bloom where I live. I think there are better sources of nectar/pollen here for the bees when elderberry blooms. I did notice a lot of small,...

My last stand of Buckwheat will bloom over the last three-four weeks of September (first week of Oct is our first frost). I'll then wait a week or so for the seeds to brown-up, then sow a Winter Rye...

I won't use the pulp fiber swarm traps anymore, but when I did I used bungie cords to attach them to the tree. It worked well even in heavy winds. The bungie cords made installation/removal a snap....

It will reseed itself . . . but I've lost crops because the seed germinated on the surface and then it got too dry, but we have a lot of clay in our soil. The roots are really shallow. I rake the...

Countryboyknows a lot more about Buckwheat than I do, but for less than an acre I plant it after a shallow till during the first week of May, let the seed turn brown and then till it again for an...