Spring is in the air!!

[Dane Bramage]

We've been blessed with a very mild winter here in the PNW this year (Fall was cold tho!).  My bees have been out in force often and consistently already... just getting around to taking some pics today (60°F & sunny).  They are bringing in loads of pollen! 





The willows are in bloom, red maples.. loads of others.. even dandelions!



Looking closely, you can see how loaded down they are.



The chickens like the weather as well! 



Hoping for a big year!!

Cheers,
Dane

[kathyp]

yup.

[David LaFerney]

I'm envious.

[poka-bee]

Amazing photos as usual!  Yes, our winter has been amazingly warm & mild! Trees are blooming all over! Daffs are up, crocus, forsythia, wild cherry, star magnolia!  Woo Hoo, winter is on it's way out!

Jody

[schawee]

IT SNOWED 4TIMES  THIS YEAR IN LOUISIANA.NEVER DID THAT BEFORE.NOW ITS 32 BY THE WEEKEND IT WILL BE IN THE 70S.BEES ARE BRING IN ALOT OF POLLEN WHEN THE TEMP. LET THEM.

[Dane Bramage]

Amazing photos as usual!  Yes, our winter has been amazingly warm & mild! Trees are blooming all over! Daffs are up, crocus, forsythia, wild cherry, star magnolia!  Woo Hoo, winter is on it's way out!

Jody

Thx & I hope you are right Jody (Winter out)!  We had record colds late Fall followed by this record warm Winter.  My fear is that we'll have a record cold Spring or something.  There is so much in bloom, way early, already... the red-tip photinias are almost ready to pop, even some pears, which has me worried.  All we need is a nice frost to freeze off those buds. 

Well.. crossing my fingers!  Here's some more images from earlier today.  Some (unknown ID) ornamental shrub next to the house that flowers, and is popular, early:

[homer]

Dane...

Your pictures are ridiculous..... as usual!  Seriously, well done!  You could make big bucks selling quality photos like that!

[Dane Bramage]

Thanks Homer. 

I got lucky with the lighting on those last two.  I thought it was cool to be able to capture the bee and it's shadow (on the leaf below).

[Cindi]

Ah Dane, when I see a post of yours, and I know that there are pictures forthcoming within that post, I get pretty excited.  You know I have told you time and time again that I believe you have a special skill to capture those lovely little ladies on their lovely little flowers and so on.  Your pictures are always a wonderful view for the eyes, mind, body and soul.  Always keep those pictures coming to us, you know we all love to see them.

Spring is here too, things are budding open, the forsythia has been blooming for a couple of weeks, no dandelion views yet, crocus, snowdrops, many things. But I think you are even more further along than my area.  I would venture to say a couple of weeks. I wonder what that white flower is, kind of reminds me of jasmine.  Does it have a perfume?  Did you notice?  Anyways, friend, so nice that you have brought these beautiful pictures to tease us of your beautiful place that we all know you live in.  Beautiful days, with health and love, Cindi

[kathyp]

cindi!  where have you been?

funny, i have some dandelions but not the forsythia yet.  some plums and one of Japanese pears have bloomed, but most is a good week off.  gotta love spring!

[lenape13]

Spring?  What is that?  I was hoping all this white stuff would be gone by now.  Can anyone send me some nice warm weather they're not using?  I and my girls would appreciate it...

[Dane Bramage]

@Cindi ~> Thank you!  You are so very sweet, too kind.   
That bush is not a jasmine, as far as I know.  It has a lovely scent, but different.  I will have to see if I can categorize it.  I do seem to have a few varieties of jasmine, or at least ones that smell of jasmine.  Some bushes that bloom late summer, vines that bloom in spring... and this sole specimen that is blooming right now:





It smells very lovely. 

~

Absolutely gorgeous day yesterday, 68°F 100% sunny and calm winds.  Forecast is for more typical seasonal weather (read: wet & cold), so I was out turning compost, etc., - had to bring my camera with though (a good excuse to take a brake from the rake & catch my breath!).

Bees were extremely busy:





I had my macro lens, for close-ups, captured a couple of cute single bees.  Blonds have more fun?

 



I made both the above images into large (1920x1200) wallpaper images ~> one, two & (one extra)
three

The hens were following me around as I turned the compost.  I've many terraces and am using a terrace/incline approach to composting the poplar leaf, willow mulch (from downed tree), sheep & chicken manure, etc.,.  Sort of using gravity to help along.  Giant worms.  The hens are eating like queens!





Lastly, a couple shots of some of the back yard.





Cheers,
Dane

[kathyp]

looks like you are already starting to build up!  yes, it was a great day.  finally warm enough to do a proper inspection.  did you lose any over the winter? 

i found lots of capped brood. glad so much was capped as we are in for a bit of a cold snap. 

[Dane Bramage]

@kathyp  ~> yes indeed, it sure seems as though they are in building mode already.  Intense activity!  Seems even more than in the height of summer.  I'm guessing that's only because they are all coming and going at once.  Are your colonies really active as well? 
Even with the warm weather, I'm reluctant to do any inspections - have not done any.  I don't want to break propolis seals, especially with our weather (cold & rain, even potential frosts, incoming!).    I've just been doing some open feeding, which has gone quite well.
I did have a few losses over the winter, but not many.  Actually I'll have some extra packages (3# Carni queen) after 4/2 as I ordered extra, just in case .

btw, like your Atlas Shrugged (& libertarian oriented) sig-line quotes.  Good stuff lady!

[kathyp]

swapped out ayn for ronnie  

they are active.  i did a first inspection yesterday.  found that they were pretty packed with honey, so i stopped feeding for not.  i was open feeding also.  things are starting to bloom, but we are behind you by a bit.  lost 2 that i expected to lose and found one queenless yesterday.  will probably have to combine it.  no drones and to early to by a queen.  popped a frame of eggs in to hold them and double check.

looks like we might have a good year!  now it just depends on the rain not messing up the bloom.

[Dane Bramage]

We'll have to chat about some books soon.   

looks like we might have a good year!  now it just depends on the rain not messing up the bloom.

Uh oh, here it comes!

...SHARPLY COLDER AIR WILL ARRIVE IN SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON AND
NORTHWEST OREGON BY MONDAY MORNING...

AFTER JANUARY AND FEBRUARY BROUGHT ONE OF THE MILDEST STARTS TO
THE YEAR IN MUCH OF SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON AND NORTHWEST OREGON...A
MUCH COLDER WEATHER SYSTEM WILL MOVE IN TONIGHT. THIS SYSTEM WILL
BRING THE LOWEST SNOW LEVELS TO THE AREA SINCE LAST DECEMBER.

SNOW LEVELS WILL DROP SHARPLY LATER TONIGHT AND EARLY MONDAY
BEHIND A RATHER STRONG COLD FRONT...DOWN TO 1000 TO 1500 FEET
ABOVE SEA LEVEL. THIS WILL BE SUFFICIENT TO CHANGE RAIN TO SNOW IN
MUCH OF THE COAST RANGE AND THE CASCADE FOOTHILLS.

A COLD...UNSETTLED AIR MASS WILL THEN LINGER THROUGH MONDAY
EVENING. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED
TO DEVELOP DURING THE DAY MONDAY...AND THE HEAVIER SHOWERS WILL
LIKELY PRODUCE SMALL HAIL. ANY HEAVIER SHOWERS MONDAY AND MONDAY
EVENING MAY ALSO BRIEFLY CAUSE WET SNOW TO FALL TO ELEVATIONS
LOWER THAN 1000 TO 1500 FEET...BUT SIGNIFICANT STICKING SNOW DOES NOT
APPEAR LIKELY BELOW AN ELEVATION OF 1000 FEET THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT.

ANOTHER RATHER COLD SYSTEM WILL KEEP SNOW LEVELS LOW AND ADD MORE
SNOW TO THE MOUNTAINS TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. MOTORISTS TRAVELLING
THROUGH THE CASCADES THIS WEEK SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR SNOW COVERED
ROADS. DRIVERS IN THE COAST RANGE SHOULD BE READY FOR ACCUMULATING
SNOW ACROSS THE PASSES AS WELL.

[KD4MOJ]

Ya know dane, instead of being an engineer, you out to branch out in professional photography! Great photo's as always. Keep them coming!

...DOUG
KD4MOJ

[annette]

As usual Dane, I added your photos to my photo library.
Thanks for sharing
Annette

[Dane Bramage]

@KD4MOJ ~>  Thx Doug!  Oh, I do some branching.  A veritable neo-Renaissance 'round here.    It's especially nice when the hobbies are profitable. 

@annette ~> thank you & you're most welcome Annette! 

[Dane Bramage]

Got some significant bearding yesterday.  It got up to about 68°F but... this is surprising and a record for me here!