Winter is certainly a beautiful season, especially in the large snowstorm we had over the weekend when the hives' roofs got a hat. Winter can also be a tough time for the bees, however. This season is the real trial when the beekeeper sees whether the bees have stored enough to eat, have been treated sufficiently for disease and pests, and are genetically predisposed for getting through the winter. Colony Collapse disorder has also become an issue during the winter, although its severity is declining since its spike in 2007. Many times the hive will not make it-- last year there was a 25% loss reported.
