Bees seem to be surviving the winter so far, even with as many sub-zero days we’ve had. Ear to the hive you can hear a faint hum of thousands of bees shivering their flight muscles to generate heat in the hive.

My only job this time of year is to keep the entrances free of snow. With the hive cover propped open slightly, and the front entrance unblocked, the hive will hopefully have just enough ventilation to let moisture evaporate and keep fresh air in the hive without making it too hard for the bees to maintain the hives’ internal temperature.

Fingers crossed, both hives will make it through their first winter and until the weather warms in spring.