Guilford Beekeepers

Notes for the Month

From dawn to dusk sunshine in March, we now have apple blossom out but a continuation of the rain we had all April.  If your colonies do not have supers on which still contain stores, I suggest you had best feed dilute sugar syrup.  Remove any empty supers first.  If you have an early swarm, you should certainly be feeding it.  I have little doubt we shall have a spate of swarming once the weather improves, so make use of the time now to prepare.  You do not want to be nailing frames together while the swarm hangs in a convenient tree, only to fly off while you work.  If you have to do it on newspaper on the kitchen table, missing TV programmes, I fear that that is part of the sacrifice necessary to be a beekeeper.  We have an apiary meeting on swarm control this month, weather permitting.  Do try to come if you are at all unsure or nervous as to what to do.  But you can do nothing without spare equipment!