It seems like summer should be full of food for bees since the gardens are producing and flowers are blooming, but the lack of nectar is a problem for bees in Western North Carolina in July and August. Learn about the dearth and how to help feed your bees through this tough time.
It's almost July - hot, humid, and full of blooms! The sourwood is flowering and you should make sure you are ready with supers, as well as harvesting and bottling equipment. Mite checks are on the to-do list, too.
Late spring can be a rollercoaster of temperatures and weather patterns, as well as unexpected dearths. Keep an eye on your hives and be ready to add supers or supplemental feeding, as needed.
Early spring can be a tricky time for beekeepers as they decide whether or not to support their hives with extra feeding. If you are establishing new colonies or if weather conditions are making it hard for your bees to forage, supplementing with sugar syrup can offer additional sustenance for your bees.
Seasonal transitions can seem slow or sudden. Sometimes we are caught unprepared when our temperatures drop overnight. Even during a single day, our temperatures can shift +/- 20°F or more from dawn to dusk. This post will highlight some of the changes you can expect in our area during the fall-to-winter transition period.