* I went searching for queens to mark and actually found several - much easier with new hives with fewer bees. Still had several not found but evidence they are working.
* The Superior Beekeeping Club has donated a package to the Marquette Children's Museum. I hived it in a regular hive and will transfer frames to the 6 frame observation hive when all is ready with developing brood.
* Had a good time talking bees at the Escanaba Kiwanis Home and Garden Show. Thank you to my hosts MSU's Rebecca Krans and Master Gardener volunteer Kerri Kulczynski.
* Susan Payant and I were at the Marquette Food Co-op on April 22nd for an Earth Day event. We had an observation hive and honey samples. We were able to chat with many people about the importance of pollinators. Thank you to Brigitte Derel for inviting and hosting us.
* Keep feeding your bees!! With the much cooler (sleet/snow outside right now) weather of the next week, jar or bag feeding right over the inner cover hole is probably the best. The bees do not have to "break cluster" to get at their food source. A big reminder that boardman entrance feeders are "bee killers" in this kind of weather.
* Bees have been collecting alder, then pussy willow, now maple tree blossoms are out. They were really collecting from all of these, but probably will not be flying for the next week. I hope some maples will still be blossoming. Plants are running a week to 2 weeks early at this time. You might want to go to the wildflower gallery and print off the list of flowers and their bloom dates - keep track in your area!
** May 10th will be a club event at the Ore Dock. The topic will be controlling mites by David Payant. More info coming.