What is your weather like ... today

[JBtheExplorer]

Nothing but 30°F's and 40°F's in the forecast. I can't help to wonder if we're finally getting out of that really cold weather that's been effecting us since Christmas. Spring is near!

 

[j.w]

39f wet and windy. The cold, cold is on the way!

 

[sissy]

Has been getting really windy out and sun is hiding and getting really dark clouds coming over and really dark out right now .Someone turned off the sun

 

[JamieB]

Went down to the bosses, dropped the trailer we had, picked up a different one from the town, then back to the bosses with it, where we switched trucks. His horses guilted me into promising them apples next time. Big beggars!

 

[addy1]

honey bees were swarming her bird feeders!

They are looking for pollen, the queen is starting to lay eggs, they need pollen which they turn into bee bread, which is what they feed the brood.
The bird food must have some protein in it, attracts them.

They don't go near my feeders, must not like the smell of the bird food.

I am feeding ours artificial pollen, bought from bee supply company. Feeding because that increases the brood, which for us ='s more bees which ='s more bees to gather nectar to make honey, if they don't swarm.
Soon the maples will bud, that is their first natural pollen if it stays warm enough for them to gather it.

 

[JamieB]

Could flower bulbs be forced early to bloom for them? Will they use that pollen?

 

[JamieB]

As bad as the weather has fluctuated, I worry about the wild bees.

 

[addy1]

Could flower bulbs be forced early to bloom for them? Will they use that pollen?

They need a lot of pollen. The crocus are blooming now, they get pollen from them and any where they can find it.
They manage to survive.

 

[CountryEscape]

Would the bees even typically be "awake" when the early spring bulbs bloom? I guess I'm thinking typically don't ever see bees until the temps are in the mid to upper 60's at least! Thanks for the info, @addy1 ! I'll pass it on.
Chilly day today, finally sun came out this afternoon, maybe got up to 40. Then see-saw temps coming up again/still. Imagine that! Something new and different. LOL LOL LOL

 

[Lisak1]

Cold again today. Woke up to 15 degrees on the thermometer... brrrrr. I didn't even have to wear a coat yesterday - that almost 40 degree temp felt soooo nice! Ice is forming on the pond again. Yesterday I chatted with all my fishes as the pond was mostly open - they're all fine and as anxious for spring as I am!

 

[JamieB]

They need a lot of pollen. The crocus are blooming now, they get pollen from them and any where they can find it.
They manage to survive.

I’m talking for my wild bees. Should I put out some store bought flowers ( well washed, in a planter, that I’ll keep inside till warm days) and then next year, I could actually force some bulbs early, or even start other flowers inside early. We are having a day or two above 60, then 30-40s for a few days, then a day or two above 70. I saw some the wild bees moving on one of the warmer days. I’d like to offer them something

 

[sissy]

cold ,damp and dreary looking and only 33 degrees

 

[j.w]

Cold, windy and raining at 43f but tomorrow will go down to 17f during the darkness and we may wake up to a little snow.

 

[JamieB]

It got warm today! I dug up more of the flower bulbs, replanted them, oh I need a long hot soak! I don’t have enough energy to get them all dug up yet, nor pots, or soil! 11 planters full so far, but oh man, I’ve got way more bulbs popping up than I thought we had! And that’s with me accidentally killing some digging them up. I’m trying to fit one or two clusters of bulbs per container, depending on size of pot and size of clusters. Where the bulbs multiplied, and are packed tight, I think I’m stuck not separating them out right now, I’ll do so later. Like in the fall. I think once they bloom, I’ll mark what’s what, when it blooms, then in fall, I’ll separate them out so I can see just how many of each I’ve got, to figure out a planting plan.

 

[addy1]

I’m talking for my wild bees.

Anything you do to add flowers, food for them helps. The seeds I put out are for the wild bees, some for the honey bees, some for the hummingbirds some for beneficial bugs some for the birds some for the butterflies, a smorgasbord of flowers.

About 2 inches of snow fell, hitting full sun and 50 today it won't last long.