Im still logged in?!

 damn right. Well. Its 2020. I've got 1500 colonies. What the heck!? What is all this linear time all about. I forgot to remember that I dont believe in all that rubbish. Back to the future: heres my YouTube channel -https://www.youtube.com/c/Keeperofthebees

Bringing out the dead..

This is always a depressing time of year. Opening up the hives. Hoping to find them alive and at least doing well. Its also a time for new birth. The queens are laying again and the brood is quickly building. They're docile this time of year. My bees are rarely calm. Made 10 nucs. Queens should be in tomorrow. Got one yard fed with 1/1 sugar water and mega bee patties. Thats a first and im interested on seeing the results..... until then.

I think I did to many rain dances

Well, It rained all day last Thursday , then around 4 p.m the storm really hit and with it a tornado. Now I don't know how many of you have ever been around a tornado , but this was a first for me and I was out in it. Driving around looking at the water accumulate. I guess the smart thing should of been to stop , maybe find cover. However , my first reaction was to drive and drive and drive. Anyway thats over now and the next day was lid and bee clean up. Yet , to my surprise only 3 lids flew off and one was on a dead swarm. Now , a week later , the wild mustard is starting to come up good and it shouldn't be long before wild flowers are in droves. Creosote bushes are begging to bloom. Its what I call pre-spring . Queens are coming the first of February and splits need to be made. ahhh much work.

Rain Beautiful Rain

In this dry desert region rain can never be underestimated. It is a wonderful thing to see rain on the forecast all week. Its much needed in the Palo Verde Valley let alone Southern California as a whole. The first rain of the year! Soon the wild mustard will be in full bloom . I'm already seeing Creosote bushes begging to flower and the great Palo Verde Tree will be shortly after. Queens are beginning to start laying for early spring and I'll be making splits in early February. Life seems to be good.

Happy New Year -- swarm call #1

I didn't expect for the first swarm to come from an actual swarm , especially on January 4th. Typically when you come across a swarm this early there's a problem. I put a small nuc on a ladder underneath and brushed them off the eave into it. They went right down in and seemed happy to have the sugar water. I came back an hour later and took them off. This ladies and gentlemen is as easy as it gets . I'll check them in about ten days and see whats going on...







Mission accomplished.

anticipation

It seems like I'm always anticipating something when it comes to my bees. If its not the swarm season , the honey flow , or the fall dearth its something else. This time of year proves to be no different. To cold to open the hives , to cold to do cut outs , to cold to cold to cold . The suns began its journey in a different direction and in anticipation of the warmth I'm building Nuc box after Nuc Box. Alot of times its a curse but these days its a blessing to have stacks of old boxes out back. They're easily cut down into Nucs. I'm planning on making some cardboard swarm catch nucs here soon as well . Time is always a factor.

Location , Location , Location

I keep myself and my bees within the Palo Verde Valley and somewhat on the outskirts.. , Its a beautiful valley that's been nourished for thousands of years by the ever moving Colorado river. However the rivers been dammed and the Valley developed . I thought to make a description myself but as I'm pressed for time I'll just copy and paste this one over from Arcadia Publishing's web site -

" Located midway between Los Angeles and Phoenix, the Palo Verde Valley enjoys year-round sunshine and mild winter temperatures. In the late 1800s, surveyor O. P. CallawayPalo Verde Valley and its main settlement, Blythe (incorporated in 1916), grew into a thriving cohesive community loved by its year-round inhabitants as well as the “snowbirds” and river folks who come and go. The valley has over 40,000 acres of prime farmland and produces cotton, alfalfa, melons, lettuce, broccoli, onions, and many other fruits and vegetables. The Colorado River provides numerous opportunities for boating, skiing, and fishing. "