I took these photos a
week ago, when snow had been on the ground for six days and I suddenly
had the realization that my poor honeybees might be smothering inside
their hive. I rushed out and brushed the entrance free, then pressed my
ear against each side of each box. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. And then --- there! --- a low buzz.
The colony sounded
awfully weak, which didn't really surprise me given the extremely low
temperatures we'd been experiencing. But, at the same time, I knew that
people successfully keep bees in much colder climates than ours, so I
hoped for the best.
Imagine my joy when I
went to listen again this past weekend and heard a louder hum. I think
the bees were just hunkering down during the extreme cold, and I now
have high hopes that they'll be able to make it until the first spring
flowers begin to bloom. The dandelions should be out in force within a
month --- hang in there, bees!