April in the Apiary – What’s in Bloom & A Lesson in Patience
- Stax Of Wax Ltd
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Spring is finally starting to show itself in the apiary, and April is one of those months where everything begins to shift. The bees are becoming more active, the days are stretching out, and—most importantly—the first real forage is appearing.
April in the Apiary- What’s in Bloom
Right now, the landscape is starting to wake up. You’ll notice early blossoms providing much-needed nectar and pollen for the colonies. In our apiaries we are starting to see
Willow (a big early pollen source)
Dandelion (often underestimated but incredibly valuable)
Blackthorn and early fruit blossoms
Purple dead nettles
Close by crops Oil seed is just coming into flower
These early sources are vital. After winter, colonies are low on stores and need both nectar for energy and pollen to raise new brood.
When watching THE hives, we should see bees returning with bright pollen loads—always a good sign that things are moving in the right direction.
This time of year brings excitement. After months of quieter activity, it’s tempting to get straight into the hives at the first sign of sunshine.
But April is also a time for patience.
Although the bees are flying, temperatures can still fluctuate quite a bit. Opening a hive too early—especially on a day that feels warm to us but isn’t consistently warm—can do more harm than good. Brood can be chilled, and the colony’s progress can be set back and cause problems later on.
We will observe the hives, we check for
Are bees flying regularly?
Are they bringing in pollen?
Does the colony look active and purposeful?
These signs tell us a lot without needing to break open the hive. That they survived winter, the queen is more than likely present as they are collecting food for the brood. They are healthy.
Let the Bees Build First
Colonies are still building up strength in April. The queen is increasing her laying, and the worker population is slowly growing. Disturbing them too early can interrupt that momentum.
It’s not about doing nothing—it’s about doing the right things at the right time.
Looking Ahead
As we move further into spring and temperatures become more stable, there will be a proper time to carry out full inspections and assess colony health in more detail.
I’ll cover that in the next post, along with some of the common mistakes beekeepers make when they rush in too early.
For now, April is about watching, learning, and letting the bees do what they do best.
— Stax Of Wax Ltd
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