Part 4 Spring Bee Keeping Activities - Bees on the Move

Moving bee hives is a Spring bee keeping activity that is full of adventure and a fun opportunity to create some memories with those lending a helping hand. It is also hard work lifting heavy hives that can weigh anywhere from 25-100 pounds and contain thousands of aggravated bees, which of course each have a stinger that they are not afraid to use!

Photo: A path cleared for the bee truck for loading up the hives at a nearby orchard.

The start of spring in our area is marked by blooming wildflowers and tree blossoms. It is an exciting time, as bee keepers across the country begin moving thousands of hives into California for Almond pollination around mid-February.

Photo (above): 13 hives loaded up for almond pollination; Video (below): Dropping off the hives at two local almond orchards.

As a small local bee keeper, we don't have to travel far when moving hives, with Almond orchards quite literally surrounding us. This year, we moved 13 hives into Almond pollination - 8 in an orchard in Clovis, and 5 in an orchard in Selma. It is fun to watch the bees come to life following the winter lull, as the Almond trees begin to blossom, providing an abundant pollen source for the bees. By the end of the 3-4 week blossoming period, the hives are booming with bees.

Photos: (Top) You can see the different colors of pollen being stored in this frame from one of our hives. (Bottom) Our bee hives were booming with bees after bringing them back to our main bee yard after pollinating orchards.

Following Almond pollination, it is honey-making time as a variety of sources for nectar come into bloom (nectar is what bees use to make honey). This year, we decided to intentionally move the hives into two areas with two different nectar sources - Orange blossom and Wildflower - so that we could produce two different kinds of spring honey.

Photo: (Top) A blooming citrus grove right next to one location where we moved our hives for both almond pollination and citrus bloom. (Bottom) Mustard wild flowers are common in our area during the spring, and are a great source of nutrition for bees and make excellent honey.

In early May, after the Orange blossom, we moved all the bee hives into a central location - our main site in Clovis - so that it is easier to manage all the hives in one spot.

Photos: (Top) Our bees peaking their heads out of one of the honey boxes. (Bottom) The California Dreamin’ hive overflowing with bees after the Orange blossom.

All in all, this spring we moved our bee hives 3 times. Any guesses how many times we were stung during the moves?

Blessings,

Jeff