JANUARY 2025
It feels to me like spring is in the air already … but we haven’t had a winter yet!
My favourite day of the year has been and gone (21st December) and the days are getting noticeably longer day by day! And my garden has flowers, and bees enjoying them.
I have been keeping an eye on my bees, and recently added fondant, just in case. I will do the rounds again next week, to make sure all is well and top up the fondant if need be. No winter losses so far, but then we haven’t had any wintery weather to speak of yet. I wonder if 2025 is going to be a repeat of 2024?
Apart from adding fondant, observing bees on a warm day, and keeping an eye out for weather or wildlife damage to your hives, there is not much else to do. I have spent some time today tidying my bee shed (badly needed!) and clearing my workbench so I can make up a few frames – what better way to look forward to the forthcoming beekeeping season!
Now oxalic acid – I do not use this on my colonies. My reasoning is that it is such horrid stuff for humans, that I really don’t want to inflict it on my bees. I am also trying to treat less and monitor more, to try and get my colonies to learn how to deal with varroa themselves (See Professor Steve Martin’s research on the subject).
Wishing you all a happy, peaceful and bountiful new year!
I close with pictures of the flowers in my garden!
Photos (c) Janine Sparks