Anticipation

-Peeking out my front door, it looks like spring is on the horizon!

It’s that time again, the annual arrival of spring, bringing a sense of renewal and anticipation.

About a month ago, a touch of intellectual pessimism crept in, stronger than ever this year. My beehives, in a sorry state when last seen on October 25, were grappling with complicated viral infections and had been sprayed twice.

In my commercial beekeeping days, I might have considered drastic measures. Shaking out all but two hives on the ground would have been the norm. But those days are behind me. What I witnessed four months ago was an extreme anomaly, not the norm of the natural beekeeping journey I embarked on over a decade ago. Last year, I chose to let nature take its course, refraining from interference.

Today, there’s a newfound warmth in the sun’s rays, longer days, and an inner voice declaring, “Spring is coming.” While snow still blankets my backyard, and more is expected, the possibility of spring overshadows the challenges of the past.

Spring brings hope, a necessary trait for every beekeeper. The labor is demanding, and the risk of failure is ever-present. Beekeepers, with their touch of romance and bee-induced goofiness, seem to be under the spell of some benumbing pheromone produced by the bees themselves!

Unlike the rest of the country where beekeepers are buzzing about queens, splits, and swarms, Wyoming lingers in winter. Yet, there’s a window of opportunity to visit my bees when the temperature approaches 60 degrees F for a day. With luck, I’ll navigate the snowdrifts and mud to reach my beeyard.

Although broodnest work is still on hold due to the chilly and windy conditions, I can separate hives to soak up the sun, feed frames of honey where needed, and tidy up any casualties from the winter.

What awaits me? Did the winds exceed 100 mph, dismantling the lightly propolized new equipment despite the rocks I piled on top? Were the hives invaded by horses or other critters? Did they surrender to viruses or starvation?

Hopeful and filled with anticipation, I look forward to this visit. Perhaps most of them weathered the challenges and will pleasantly surprise me!

✨

Cheers, D 🌴🌊