Skunk Cabbage

March 13, seven days until the Spring equinox, and already warm days allow for the girls to venture out in search of early pollen. They did not touch the sugar I left for them, and seem to still have enough honey. Yesterday a co-worker told me stories of her less fortunate bees who had honey in the hive box, but starved looking in the wrong cells for it, and other bives that ran out all together.
Warm days last week allowed the bees to leave the hive in search of pollen. Perhaps finding skunk cabbage somewhere, New England's first Spring growth. Bear cubs come out of hibernation mid-April, so I need to keep my mind on putting up another electric fence.

Nearing Spring

Spring nears, and the bees are still alive. Today felt warm, though it is all relative these days in Western Massachusetts with our latest cold air. I went to bring some more sugar to the girls, but upon lifting the lid I noticed they hadn't touched the sugar I left weeks ago. Still hanging on, a month or so to go before maybe some warmer air can allow them to fly free again. I can only imagine how ancy they feel, given my readiness for springtime that comes each March. It must be worse living with 1000s in a small box.