I know it is a cliché, but the difference from this time last year when the Beast From The East™ was flexing its muscles is astonishing.
The promise of winter in mid January was short lived and since then we have had persistently mild and dry weather with temperatures well into the upper teens by day and only slight frosts at night. Spring flowering plants are early in bloom and the bees are active and taking full advantage of the opportunities.
All four colonies in our main apiary have survived the winter. Large pollen loads on the landing board are an encouraging sign that brood rearing has already started.
As well as the bees, other insects are making the most of the unseasonable weather. In the past few days we have observed many bumble bees and several butterflies on the wing.
