Is it spring yet???

What a wild ride of a winter it's been on the east coast this year, but the snow is quickly melting, daytime temps are edging up towards 50F, and it'll be March in less than one week.  Soon it'll be time for our little native bees to start munching out of their cocoons, so now is the time to prepare for their arrival!  Here are some things I recommend:

*  Before you grab your bee house out of storage and hang it outside, slide out the cardboard Protector Tubes and give the house a quick coating of butcher block or cutting board oil to protect it through the spring rains. It's inexpensive, does a good job and isn't toxic like varnish or exterior paint.

*  If you don't have clean inner Nesting Straws yet, it's time to buy some!  You want to be sure to have nice clean nesting material ready to go when our native bees come looking for a cozy spot to lay their eggs. 

*  After March 1st, hang your native bee house facing east or southeast so the sun will warm them first thing in the morning.  It should be hung about 4 ft. up to keep critters away, and on a solid surface to prevent jiggling and add warmth. 

*  If you haven't purchased or stored cocoons from the previous year, and just want to see what solitary native bees you can attract, you're done!  Just sit back and wait for the show. 

*  If you do have hibernating bees in storage, I'd wait till some early-spring plants start to bloom - like pussy willow, dogwood, crocus, red bud and vibernum - before putting the cocoons outside.  That way you'll know that the bees will have access to nectar and pollen.

For more detailed info on how to add your hibernating bees to your bee house, and lots more, go to Beekeeping 101 and check out the Season-by-Season instructions.  You can also sign up to receive our online Newsletter, so you'll always know just what you should be doing, and when.  No worries!  It's all good.  ;-)