Resilient bees survive the perils of the storm
| Fonmon Apiary news with Harold Williams
In the latter days of February, Storm Eunice spent some of her fury on the fence around the apiary.
Two sections were blown inwards and would have ended on the ground but for the fact that three hives got in the way. One hive was knocked completely off the stand and the bees were exposed to the prevailing weather. The other two had their boxes displaced but they remained on their stands – and this prevented a total collapse of the fence.
Using temporary shores, I managed to move the fence sections away from the hives and this allowed me to rearrange the displaced boxes to their original positions.
Many bees came out to greet me whilst I did this. With these two now secure, I could turn my attention to the colony that ended up on the ground. This colony is made up of three boxes. Fortunately, the lower two boxes had gaffer tape around them at their joining surfaces. This held them together but the top box was wide open to the elements.
However, it was devoid of bees. The bees (lots of them) were in the lower boxes and this helped them to survive the exposure. Eventually I got things sorted, the boxes were restored to their correct alignment but the hive is now on the ground and not on a stand. It is secure and it will remain on the ground until I have the fence sections restored to their upright positions and firmly fixed.
Since my initial visit I have checked on the bees several times. When temperatures have been in the teens, all colonies have sent out foragers and the busiest colony is the one that was sent crashing to the ground!
So far, I have not opened any of the colonies except for a peak into the top boxes. This quick look showed plenty of bees in each of them. Plenty of spring blossoms are now available to any foraging bees but the up and down weather conditions mean that I may well have to look to feeding them should March prove to continue being wet and windy. Will spring arrive?
Harold Williams
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