Dead Bees Don't Swarm

It has been unusually cold here in Oklahoma, just like in most of the rest of the United States. In fact it has been so cold that in mid-January most of our yard is still covered with the snow that fell on Christmas Eve. In the 39 years I've lived in Oklahoma, I can not remember any snow ever lasting so long.

Through this long cold snap, we've worried about our bees, but really couldn't do anything but talk about them.

You know what's coming, don't you?

Kelly opened the hive today to find . . . DEAD BEES. They are all gone. It makes me sad . . . they were a friendly bunch, really hard workers, and very entertaining.

On the bright side. . . I guess we don't have to worry about a swarm this spring!

We'll start again. In March or April we'll get a new queen and 5 frames of bees from one of the local beekeepers, until then . . . we'll just have fond memories of the little yellow and black gals.