Spring Beekeeping Update: Challenges, Swarms, and New Queens at Lake Martin Honey

Spring has finally arrived, and with it comes a new season of opportunities and challenges for beekeepers. At Lake Martin Honey, we've been navigating this spring with its ups and downs, particularly due to my unexpected knee surgery which set us back on hive inspections. As a result, many hives have swarmed and this will greatly impact honey production.

The significant challenge this spring was my knee surgery. It meant I had to delay important hive inspections just when they were needed the most. For beekeepers, timely inspections are vital for monitoring the health of the colony, ensuring the queen is laying eggs, and being ready when the nectar flow begins in mid April.

Frame of capped honey

Despite the setbacks, I am happy to report that most of our hives are doing well, as the warmer temperatures have encouraged bees to become more active.

Swarming Season: Excitement and Challenges

In addition to delayed inspections, swarming season is upon us. While it is an exciting time, it also brings challenges that every beekeeper must face. Swarms are a natural part of a bee colony's lifecycle and occur when a colony becomes too large. A portion of the hive will leave to find a new home, which is vital for the species but can disrupt honey production.

Due to the limited inspections in March, we have experienced swarming in many of our hives. Losing a portion of the bees means less honey production for the season ahead, but this phenomenon can also be harnessed. When a colony swarms, it creates an opportunity to create new hives.

I have been busy catching swarms and carefully reintroducing them to new hives. The process requires patience and skill, but the reward comes when those bees settle down and create a new colony.

Swarm in a cedar tree

One of the most rewarding aspects of beekeeping is raising new queens. Despite our challenges, we have seen success in grafting and raising queens this spring. Grafting involves transferring larvae into special queen cells, allowing new queens to develop.

Grafted queen that has not mated yet

I am thrilled to announce that we expect to graft another round of queens to be in mid-May. This will not only help replenish our hives but will also give us an opportunity to share these queens with other local beekeepers.

Raising queens takes dedication and attention to detail, but it is one of the most gratifying tasks in beekeeping. A strong queen is crucial for a healthy hive, and seeing them develop into productive colony leaders is immensely satisfying.

Honey production is finally starting to ramp up. The warmer weather and blooming flowers have our bees bustling about, and you can feel the energy as they collect nectar. The supers are filling up with honey, and we are excited to begin harvesting in the weeks ahead.

We have also been working on our educational tours at Lake Martin Honey, welcoming folks interested in beekeeping and the intricacies of bee life. It's a wonderful opportunity to share knowledge and inspire local customers to engage with beekeeping, whether they are interested in starting their own hives or supporting local pollinators.

Being a beekeeper is a journey filled with ups and downs. But with perseverance, we can overcome obstacles and enjoy the sweet rewards together. If you're interested in learning more about beekeeping, why not join one of our educational tours?

Keep an eye out for updates on queen availability and honey production—we can't wait to share our progress with you!

Let’s keep buzzing and supporting our incredible bees as they continue their essential work. Happy beekeeping!