Actions:
Added queen excluders and 1-3 supers per overwintered hive, based on population (n=24).​

Observations:
Our main sources of nectar and several other plants observed last year began blooming early. On Monday, despite being overcast with scattered light showers, bees were not at all defensive as we removed tops and quickly added excluders and supers without the use of smokers. We thought this may be due to them being content with foraging the abundant resources.

Reflections:
We thought we had more time before the nectar flow began (looking at previous years) but since the blooms came early, we had to move quickly to get supers installed in order to take advantage of the early nectar resources.

Things in bloom:
Purple Deadnettle, Common Stork’s bill, European Field Pansy, Dandelion, Grape Hyacinth, Wisteria, Shepherd’s Purse, Lilac, Henbit deadnettle, Lenten Rose, Star of Bethlehem, Purple Crown Vetch, Japanese Snowball, Paulownia, Black Locust, Black Cherry, Amur Honeysuckle, Amur Maple, Tulip Poplar, Russian Sage, Burning Bush, Golden Alexander

Actions:
Over the course of 3 days: Made nucs from splits (n=2). Hived all nucs made from this and last week’s splits (n=6). Pulled (n=7) and pinched (n=26) queens and checked colonies for queen cells (n=56). Removed emergency, supersedure, or swarm queen cells (n=18) in preparation to introduce newly arrived queens. After colonies were queenless for at least 24 hours, we requeened colonies (n=58).

Observations:
Colonies where queens were pulled last week all had capped or nearly capped emergency queen cells. Found one queen in a colony we installed from a package in the process of being balled. Two of Maryland’s primary nectar sources began to bloom (black locust, black cherry) on Friday of this week, which felt very early to us. Colony temperaments were almost entirely 4+ out of 5 (very gentle).

Reflections:
Another busy week in the bees! There were 7 queens that overwintered from the previous season that were laying excellent brood patterns and whose colonies had very gentle temperaments. We would normally have kept them in a split or nucs to continue being productive members of the operation. Unfortunately, we did not make proper transportation arrangements or have additional hives prepared after an already significant expansion, and the pulled queens died shortly after being removed from their colonies. This will encourage us to be better prepared to accommodate queens being removed from their colonies when splits are not being made promptly. Not much breaks our heart in beekeeping, but losing an exceptional queen is one of them. ​

Things in bloom: Purple Deadnettle, Common Stork’s bill, European Field Pansy, Dandelion, Lesser Celandine, Grape Hyacinth, Japanese Andromeda, Kanzan Cherry, Eastern Redbud, Wisteria, Giant Snowflake, Shepherd’s Purse, Lilac, Norway Maple, Henbit deadnettle, American Sweetgum, Lenten Rose, Star of Bethlehem, Autumn Olive, Purple Crown Vetch, Japanese Snowball, Paulownia, Black Locust, Black Cherry

A queen, in a recently installed colony from a package, found while being balled by the workers. Photo by Eric Malcolm, April 16, 2026.  

Actions:
Monitored colonies (n=16) to prep to split as they prepare to swarm. Made splits (n=11) from overwintered colonies, including making 3-4 FOB splits (n=6), equal in size and resources to the 28 existing project colonies. Checked project colonies recently installed from packages (n=28) for queen acceptance or absconding. Culled emergency queen cells from splits that were left queenless (n=2).

• Treated project colonies (n=30) from packages with Oxalic Acid Vapor, 4g each.
• Fed project colonies 1 gallon of 1:1 (n=30)

Observations:
A lot of colonies were preparing to swarm. Our main factor for deciding when to make splits was finding charged swarm cells with eggs or larvae present. In a 1 deep and 1 medium box hive, the average population was usually around 16.5 FOBs, which is every frame full of bees. One additional package colony absconded. Temperament of most colonies has been wonderful and pleasant to work with minimal hand protection.

Reflections:
This was the busiest week in the bees yet this year. With more colonies and more various tasks that must be done based on where each colony is at with their growth, we are relying heavily on our records for making management decisions like what colonies need to be split (and when), what colonies will need to have emergency queen cells culled prior to requeening next week, and which queens we want to keep in the operation and where they are located after all of the splitting and moving. Still finding that monitoring is key to understanding the rate of growth of individual colonies and when they will need to be split to avoid losing the swarms. 

Things in bloom: Purple Deadnettle, Wild Daffodil, Ivy-leaved Speedwell, Hairy Bittercress, Oriental Paperbush, Forsythia, Common Stork’s bill, European Field Pansy, Dandelion, Lesser Celandine, Garlic Penny-cress, Saucer Magnolia, Yoshino Cherry, Grape Hyacinth, Japanese Andromeda, Kanzan Cherry, Eastern Redbud, Wisteria, Giant Snowflake, Shepherd’s Purse, Lilac, Norway Maple, Henbit deadnettle, American Sweetgum, Eastern Redbud, Lenten Rose, Blackhaw Viburnum

Actions:
Installed packages (n=30) in preparation for a project. Weeded and removed dead wood and grasses from two yards. Checked colonies for signs of swarming (n= 18). Split 3 colonies that had swarm cells with eggs or larvae present. Performed mite washes on overwintered colonies (n=3) that exhibited defensive temperaments or spotty brood patterns.

• Fed all remaining packages (n=26) 1 gallon of 1:1 syrup
• Applied Formic Acid (n=1) when alcohol wash results revealed 2.33% mite load (2.33 mites per 100 bees)

Observations:
Four packages absconded after installation. The commonality between them was the queen cage was installed directly below the feeder can and queens and cages were soaked. We saw many swarm cups (no eggs), some were primed with a small drop of honey. Two out of three mite washes had .33 or fewer mites per 100 bees. Our action threshold is 2 mites per 100 bees (2%) or higher. There were lots of nectar, pollen, and brood of all stages in the colonies. Many should be prepared to split by next week.

Reflections:
It is important to respect our bodies and limitations when they tell us it’s time to take a break… and I’m sure we will as soon as the beekeeping season is over. Monitoring colony growth and checking and managing mite loads early are all good steps to ensure a great start to your beekeeping season.

Things in bloom: Red Maple, Purple Deadnettle, Wild Daffodil, Ivy-leaved Speedwell, Hairy Bittercress, Saucer Magnolia, Oriental Paperbush, Forsythia, Bradford Pear, Common Stork’s bill, European Field Pansy, Dandelion, Lesser Celandine, Garlic Penny-cress, Star Magnolia, Saucer Magnolia, Okame Cherry, Yoshino Cherry, Grape Hyacinth, Japanese Andromeda
​

Actions:
Cut and prepared twenty-five 4lb fondant patties on parchment paper for supplemental feeding. Unconsumed fondant that had been placed above the inner cover nine weeks ago was moved below the inner cover to ensure direct contact with the bees. Replaced two sets of top and inner covers that had been blown off by strong winds. Added additional bricks to all lids to secure them to prevent displacement.

• Fed 4lb of fondant to 15 colonies. Fed when fondant had not been applied at the previous feeding or if 1lb or more had already been   consumed.

​
Observations:
Three colonies were lost due to suspected queen failure and/or viral pressure. Dead colonies had very small, queenless clusters in direct contact with food stores at time of death. Colonies fed nine weeks ago still had some or all of the fondant remaining. Colonies that entered winter with full food stores have now reached the top of the hive, with most retaining ¼ to ¾ of a super of capped stores. One colony still had a full super of capped stores.

Reflections:
Examining dead colonies can help identify potential causes of loss; however, thorough records are far more helpful for post-mortem assessments. After reviewing our inspection records we were able to gain better insight on each colony’s cause of loss including; queen events throughout the season, populations that failed to thrive despite supplementation and being combined, sustained low or high mite loads, and when/if populations began declining.

Things in bloom:  American Witch-hazel