Disclaimer:

This blog explains how I keep bees. It works for me, it might not work for you. Use my methods at your own risk. Always wear protective clothing and use a smoker when working bees.

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Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Bees in California

The Almond bloom is over and many colonies are crowded with bees after the season of pollination. Commercial beekeepers in California are now switching to shaking packages for northern states.
Strong colonies in the Almond Groves. Feeder cans are on top of the hives. The hives are on a pallet, four hives to a pallet. Notice the Almond blossoms on the trees in the background.
With some recent rains across the state of California, flowers have popped up and pollen has been coming in. The incoming pollen spurs on the production of drones in the crowded colonies. The increased drone production is crucial for the mating of queens that are being raised for the packages. Queen rearing is in high gear right now for the April deliveries of packages all across the northern tier of states.