maya – Page 6 – Thornhill Farm

February 11, 2015January 26, 2016Live from the Hive

Live from the hive: February 2015

“Bees in the cold” by Annie Watson, Thistle Hill Studio

A honey bee on Queen Anne's Lace. Note the pollen on her back legs. — A honey bee on Queen Anne’s Lace. Note the pollen on her back legs.

We are concerned about the bees in this long bout of cold weather. At my house in central Vermont, the thermometer hasn’t gone above 32 degrees since some time in December. Did you know that honey bees do not eliminate their wastes inside the hive? To do this, they must take a “cleansing flight”, which helps to keep the brood nest healthy. The problem is, bees generally can’t fly well unless the air gets up to nearly 50 degrees. This presents a problem in long stretches of cold such as we have in the Northeast at this time of year. On a sunny day the bees will attempt a short cleansing flight. But once they leave the hive, if the air is too cold they cannot keep their wing muscles warm enough to continue flying, and many do not make it back to the hive.

Today as I skied past the hives, I saw dead bees in the snow near the entrance. Nature is harsh. We wait and hope for a break in the weather.

The Queen Anne’s Lace flower above looks like snow, but reminds us of hot summer days. It is rare to see a honey bee on this plant, since it is not one usually frequented by them.

January 12, 2015January 26, 2016Live from the Hive

Live from the hive: January 2015

Bee on black cohosh flower — Snowballs in summer: a honey bee gathers pollen from a Black cohosh flower

“Winter Miracles” by Annie Watson, Thistle Hill Studio

It’s a miracle that honeybees can survive the long cold northern winter. They do this by clustering in a warmth-preserving ball around their one and only queen, upon whom the whole colony depends to provide the eggs for the next generation. They detach their wings from their flight muscles and vibrate those muscles to generate heat; they take turns being at the outside of the cluster where it’s colder.

Miraculous too, that around this time, in the deepest and coldest part of the winter here in the northeast, the workers, knowing that the days are getting longer and spring will come, begin to feed the queen with stored pollen and honey. She responds by beginning to lay eggs.

All of this is in preparation to build up the colony to strong numbers who, over the coming summer, can gather lots of pollen and nectar to prepare for the next winter! And so the cycle continues. Despite all that we’ve learned, the ways of the bees are still mysterious and marvelous.

December 10, 2014January 10, 2020Live from the Hive

Live from the Hive: December 2014

Beehives covered with snow — Beehives after a snowstorm, Thistle Hill Apiary

“Winter Solstice,” by Annie Watson, Thistle Hill Studio

The cold and snow have arrived in the north country. Beekeepers have wrapped and insulated their hives to help the bees stay warm through the next few months.

This is such a sweet season. The holidays give us an opportunity to celebrate life, get outside and enjoy the snowfalls, sit by a fire with friends and family, and enjoy food and drink alive with honey from the bees’ diligent work throughout the spring, summer, and fall. The honey and spirits produced at Caledonia Spirits carry in their flavor subtle reminders of the flowers the bees foraged on last summer.

On December 21 at 6:03 p.m. Eastern Time, Winter Solstice arrives and the days begin to lengthen. Since before recorded history, people have acknowledged and celebrated the return of the light on this, the longest night of the year. Our modern celebrations are descendants of ancient ceremonies marking the darkness of the Solstice and the promise of light to come.

May you celebrate with honey, warmth, community, and fun at this special time.