Tag Archives: dandelions

Minding the June Gap

Posted on June 23, 2018 by

I ran this piece last year, but it’s worth repeating. After the natural spring bouquet has begun to fade, honey bees may become hungry. The hives are (usually) strong with lots of brood. If there is a long gap between … Continue reading →

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Peak Dandelion

Posted on May 26, 2018 by

For a lot of temperate-climate beekeepers, dandelions are the peak of the spring season.  Their bloom marks the point where hives are finally getting much stronger, nectar is pouring in, and the dandelions’ massive gifts are giving a fine boost … Continue reading →

Posted in Bee Biology, Climate, Ecology, Honey Plants | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Mind the Gap!

Posted on June 2, 2017 by

If you travel metro in London (and many other cities) you might hear a polite admonition from the public address system, “Mind the gap!”  It’s advising you not to get your footwear stuck between the train and platform while boarding. Beekeepers … Continue reading →

Posted in Beekeeping, Ecology, Honey Plants | Tagged , , | 15 Comments

Daffodils in December?

Posted on April 2, 2017 by

Cherry trees in Washington bloom around April March first. Things are changing. Erik, a beekeeper/writer/blogger in northern Virginia keeps a nice online calendar showing flowering dates in his neighbourhood. It’s only a couple of years old so it just gives … Continue reading →

Posted in Beekeeping, Climate, Honey Plants | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

Weird Spring

Posted on April 22, 2016 by

We are having weird, weird weather here in Alberta. It’s dry as a desert and almost as hot as one. Since January, our temperature has stayed well-above normal. Ten  degrees above normal, in fact. And that’s embarrassing. It’s embarrassing because … Continue reading →

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Dandy Season

Posted on May 25, 2015 by

A few weeks ago, I wrote that spring had arrived and pollen (plus a little nectar) was coming into the hives – mostly from willow and crocus. I also wrote that the main spring flow here in western Canada (along … Continue reading →

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Dandy Days Indeed

Posted on June 7, 2014 by

For three weeks, my 7-year-old daughter has been counting dandelions nearly every day. There is a large field behind our house, a city meadow of sorts. From mid-May to early June, our meadow likes to show a bit of yellow. … Continue reading →

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