Snow? Don't forget to brush! The beehives that is!!!

We had a huge dumping of snow last week here in Oregon. It was unusually heavy and followed a period of very mild sunny weather! 

We'd all been lulled into thinking it was going to be a lovely winter. We've had some activity with the bees coming out consistently on several days when the mercury hit 50 degrees!!!! Very odd for January and February in Oregon!

This snow was powdery and light, and fell straight down, blocking many of the hive entrances. We also had a forecast of ice rain following, which creates a very solid layer that the wind can't blow off! 

We have our hives wrapped for winter - mostly to protect them against the high winds we get up here on the hills, but luckily one of my Facebook beekeeping groups reminded me to head outside and brush the snow away from the entrance. That way the bees can make their cleaning flights when the weather allows. 

Now we'll just wait for another 50 degree day so we can open the hives and take a peek at their supplies. We don't feed sugar water, but we save frames of honey to put back into the hive if the bees need it in Spring. Oregon blossom times can vary by weeks depending on the weather, and the bees can't wait if its a long wet spring! 

How are your bees doing this winter?

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