Real World Resupply



The disrespected dandelion.

Most years I don't get too worked up about the dandelion.  I'm not really a lawn person, beyond keeping the visible green spaces short enough to ward off the neighbors and law, and the chickens like the leaves and flowers in spring.  Probably because they haven't had any gourmet greens with a kick since the snow flew back in late October.  Surviving instead on boring pellet feed and whatever comes out of the kitchen while wishing they had something other than two feet of snow to scratch around in.  At any rate, that changed this year with the arrival of these little ladies.




 

 

We've been filling the hive top feeders with a simple syrup mixture and Honey B Healthy for the past month.  Having just installed the bees this spring, they didn't have any stores to see them through the season change.  It's been a long winter in Minnesota and many of those mornings I was pleased just to hear the hum of living groups of bees inside our pair of warre hives when making the rounds.  As soon as the poplar trees started realizing it might actually stay warm long enough to bud, the bees were out and coming back loaded with so much pollen flight seemed surprising.  While out tinkering on the vehicles a worker landed next to me, panted for a minute or two of recovery, and then continued on her way back.  I still can't recognize the Italian vs. Carniolan, but she was one of ours.  And that feels good.

 

Two days ago my boy came in with two dandelions for Grandma.  The ONLY two dandelions that had bloomed thus far (we went out and looked for more).  Today they are all over the yard and I'm glad to see them.  I'm sure the local bee population is even more enthused.  It's finally spring and things are coming around just fine.