Beekeeper's veil, in still life
Just like their bees, beekeepers don't really hibernate.
The snow may be deep and drifted, but come mid-March, it's time to investigate how the bees are faring in their hive. Caution is required, though. Opening the hive chills the bees so it's best done on a warm, sunny day. Some beekeepers are feeding their bees sugar syrup now to help them through winter's final weeks.
At our apiary, we have been busy building brood and honey frames which are essential to beekeeping activity in the summer.
The snow may be deep and drifted, but come mid-March, it's time to investigate how the bees are faring in their hive. Caution is required, though. Opening the hive chills the bees so it's best done on a warm, sunny day. Some beekeepers are feeding their bees sugar syrup now to help them through winter's final weeks.
At our apiary, we have been busy building brood and honey frames which are essential to beekeeping activity in the summer.
A bee hive in the field is actually a stack of boxes.
Each box is typically filled with ten frames.
Honeybees need a structure to support the hexagonal honeycomb they build for eggs and larvae, as well as honey nectar. The bees use the frames we build for brood (larvae) or for nectar storage (honey).
Let's take a closer look.
Each box is typically filled with ten frames.
Honeybees need a structure to support the hexagonal honeycomb they build for eggs and larvae, as well as honey nectar. The bees use the frames we build for brood (larvae) or for nectar storage (honey).
Let's take a closer look.
Plastic frames are available, but many beekeepers prefer wooden frames that are assembled by hand.
Flat sheets of wire-reinforced beeswax foundation are placed in the assembled frames (left).
Flat sheets of wire-reinforced beeswax foundation are placed in the assembled frames (left).
Once inserted, the beeswax foundation is held in place by horizontal wire as well as the wooden frame. The wax smells honey-sweet, as you know if you've ever made beeswax candles.
So it's frame, wax. repeat ... ten frames to a hive box. Over the season, each hive will need two, three or more hive boxes.
So it's frame, wax. repeat ... ten frames to a hive box. Over the season, each hive will need two, three or more hive boxes.
To a bee, the wax foundation smells like home! They build -- or 'draw out' -- their honeycomb on this foundation.
Photo: poikiloblastic Come summer, the hive is active. The queen lays eggs in the drawn comb to ensure the hive population continues. Worker bees tend the eggs through the larval stage, and in time, the young bees emerge to join the life and work of the hive.
Foraging workers bring in nectar and pollen. The beekeeper replaces honey-filled frames with empty drawn frames, encouraging the bees to continue making honey.
A productive hive will fill many honey frames during the season. Ah, that golden bounty.
So now you know some of what beekeepers do in the winter, besides dream -- like their honeybees -- of fragrant blossoms to come.
Foraging workers bring in nectar and pollen. The beekeeper replaces honey-filled frames with empty drawn frames, encouraging the bees to continue making honey.
A productive hive will fill many honey frames during the season. Ah, that golden bounty.
So now you know some of what beekeepers do in the winter, besides dream -- like their honeybees -- of fragrant blossoms to come.
Photo: By liz west from Boxborough, MA (blossoms 3) [CC-BY-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Related post on There Blooms a Garden - Do bees hibernate?
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