Record temperatures in West Michigan this week have honeybees bringing in pollen like it was a summer morning! With temps hovering in the sixties and then breaking seventy with sunshine yesterday, the Silver Maples could not hold back. They burst forth in bloom. Skunk cabbage and Willow may also be blooming. The bees were bringing in a variety of pollen until sunset. Pollen means brood rearing and the bees will have to keep that brood warm. More brood puts a higher demand on the colony. A demand I hope they can keep up with in the coming months. A true Michigander knows we have not seen the last of snow even if he/she won't admit it. Hang in there Honeybees! I am checking my colonies regularly to make sure they have enough stores. If they are low, I am replacing with sugar bricks or frames of honey I saved from last fall.
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| Silver Maple bloom, February 22, 2017. Honeybees working these flowers, too high up for me to get a good shot of them. |
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| Incoming with pollen loads, February 22, 2017. |
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| Lost loads of pollen I gathered from "front porch" where the bees land. February 22, 2017. West Michigan. The yellow pollen may be Skunk Cabbage or willow. Tan to grayish green may be Silver Maple. |
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| Unbelievable! First Crocus bloom on February 22, 2017. |
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| INCOMING!! Twas like a summer day!! Silver Maple flow I guess :-) February 22, 2017. |
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| Having trouble with pollen load staying in corbicula "pollen basket" I opened up entrance more after seeing what they were losing while flying in. February 22, 2017, West MI. |
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| Sweet Honeybee landed on my finger. This was actually taken February 17, 2017. I don't believe this was true pollen. We live near a lot of farms and the bees will gather what they can from animal feed and bird feeders if no real pollen is available. |
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