Bees are not supposed to fly until temp is above 50 degrees F

 My bees continually defy that rule. Yesterday when it was about 44, they were out flying and having a great time.

When the temperature is in the 50 - 60 range, the bees in the south can fly to gather lots of pollen available to them. As I watched the bees today (Jan 31) there was lots of pollen coming into the hives. 

Bee Detective Mystery

At GBA I was lamenting the fact that I usually get home too late to see the bees flying (if the hives are alive and if they are flying). Cindy Bee said I could determine this by spreading flour on the landings. Then when I got home I could see if there were footprints in the flour and I would know.

OK, today when I left for work it was 44 degrees with high prospects for getting up in the 50's (bee flying weather). I spread flour on the landings of my three hives.

Aristaeus2:

Mellona:
Bermuda (the hive that isn't using it's landing but rather an upper opening as an entry)

When I came home the landing on Aristaeus2 was all cleaned off and so I couldn't see any bee footprints. The landing on Mellona was clean as well.




Bermuda had these prints but they look like they might represent squirrel paws rather than bee feet. So the mystery remains unsolved.
Well, I'll be home tomorrow and again it should be sunny and warm enough for them to fly.

Bees are Flying on my Deck and at the Bee Trees!

Today I had a break at work so I went home to see about the bees. Bees were flying at all three hives and I wanted to celebrate. So far, so good, as they say. I am concerned that we will have yet another hard freeze before winter is over and that I won't be so lucky the next time.


To add to my worry, I checked with the Farmers Almanac 2010 and found that they are predicting another hard freeze from February 8 - 11, with the freezing weather again extending all the way down to Florida.


I also stopped by Eddie's Odd Job Tree Service to check on the bee trees. Lo and behold, both trees had bees flying in and out. I was so excited, but disappointed that I didn't have my camera.

This means that both trees had viable queens going into the winter and that they at least had enough stores to make it this far. I'll stop by with baggie feeders early next week.

Good news! The Bees in Both hives are alive and flying

When the temperature hit 50 degrees (F) this morning, the bees started flying out of both hives. We are supposed to have a high in the 60s today so they should have some time to do cleansing flights and carry out the dead.

I even noticed a bee bringing in pollen. The only thing blooming around my house is a Camellia Sasanqua. The Sasanqua blooms in early winter and the one in my yard is blooming a lot right now. I guess that's where she got it - the pollen looks like what I see in the plant.

The first two pictures are from Bermuda. The second two are from Mellona. In the first Mellona picture, one bee is trying to convince another bee that she is dying and should be carried away.

There is less activity at Mellona, but it has always been a smaller and more tranquil hive than Bermuda.

Well, at least for the moment, I am relieved that all seems well in my bees' world.