Yesterday was one of those rare February days; Saturday and 70º. Perfect for a quick hive inspection. I’m continuing my training of a  beekeeper who started with me last spring. We met around noon and off to the bees we went! For a new beekeeper, the importance of early spring hive checks was a learning experience. We opened each hive and after a  quick check to be sure that there were frames of honey in the top super; it was lifting off exposing the second super.

Most hives have capped brood and larva in the center of the middle super. As it was not the best time to do a top to bottom – all frame check, once brood was confirmed we closed the hive.

Every spring at the first inspection,  I start a new hive sheet for the hive that lived through the winter. On the new sheet there is a place to note the source of the hive. For those that survive, the source will be noted as 2016 overwinter. As my hive numbering system has not changed, I can go back to each year’s notebook to trace the hive’s history. A few hives are 3 or 4 years old. Good testimony to the amazing ability of these social insects!