Hive Talk March 2022

Hive Talk - March 2022

March is coming in like “a Lion”. We’ve had some snow, which is great for a good growing season, and to fill up the dugouts in the area. Fingers crossed we get a productive season. How are the bees doing? March will become busy by the end of the month. Once the temperature is hovering around 10 deg. I will open them, do a quick inspection, remove any dead colonies, and focus on the survivors. I’ll feed them some sugar fondant, and install miticide strips to control any Varroa mites. Close them up and wait for warmer weather where I’ll clean up the frames and feed them pollen patties to help the bees feed their young. While doing this why not chat about the beneficial flowers that bees are attracted to. Bees are attracted to clumps, or groups of flowers. They can sense the quantity of nectar available for them if the flowers are planted in groups. I guess they like to save energy so that they are not flying everywhere to look for the same flower. I’ve read when they start collecting nectar from one flower they will look for the same flower to harvest so as not to mix up the load. If you want to start a pollinator’s garden here are a few plants to start with; Prairie Phlox, Prairie Smoke, Butterfly Milkweed, Bergamot, and Goldenrod. Another flower that bees love is Bee Balm. It is named this because it was once used to treat bee stings. I’ve got several ‘Bee balm’ plants in my yard. I’ve read that the flowers bees are attracted to have a variety of bright colours. Blue, yellow, and purple are the most attractive to bees. Red flowers are not popular with bees as they see them as being black. Who knew!