Beginnings
Welcome (and Happy Valentine's Day!)
We are finally digging out from the first real snowfall I have experienced since moving to the DC Metro area 4 years ago. I arrived the day after Snowmaggedon and am happy this storm didn't pack the punch of that record-setting storm from 2010! The snow from this storm was incredibly heavy, but I'm not complaining. I have honestly missed having snow. Having grown up in the West, there is something so beautiful about the falling snow.
We "Hope" to enter Spring will our 7 remaining colonies healthy and strong. We started several nucleus colonies last Fall using Queens grafted at the Eastern Apiculture Society annual meeting. Those Queens built up nicely in a limited time and are doing well this winter. I couldn't be happier, I am especially attached to those Queens, knowing I picked them, scooping their larval selves out of the cell and the bees confirmed my decision and allowed them to become Queens. So this Spring, I plan to graft again and see if I can increase the number of local queens in the area. Since this is only my third year, I'm still considered a newbie, but I'm having fun and learning a lot!
Tonight I'm looking forward to joining Gary Reuter for a small group visit before his lectures tomorrow at the Maryland State Beekeepers Meeting.
I look forward to my readers joining us for future updates!