At first glance, the rhythm of a beehive might seem predictable—flowers bloom, bees forage, honey flows. But spend a year at the hive’s side, and you’ll see each season brings its own set of challenges, opportunities, and lessons. As beekeepers, our role is to listen, anticipate, and respond—working with the bees, not against them, as they navigate the cycles of nature.
Spring: Awakening and Ambition
Spring is a season of renewal—a time when the hive shakes off winter’s quiet and bursts into activity. The queen’s egg-laying ramps up, brood rearing accelerates, and the colony’s numbers swell. It’s exhilarating, but it’s also a period that demands vigilance.
- Inspect early and often as soon as the weather warms (ideally above 18°C). Open the hive to assess strength, check for disease, and ensure there’s enough food. Starvation is a real risk if stores ran low over winter.
- Expand space as nectar and pollen pour in. Give the bees room to grow by adding supers to prevent crowding, which can trigger swarming.
- Monitor for swarm signs. Watch for queen cells and congestion. Split hives or create nucs if necessary to keep the colony manageable and productive.
- Stay ahead of pests. Begin mite monitoring and treat if thresholds are exceeded. Early intervention sets the hive up for a strong season.
- Replace old queens if your queen is failing. Now’s the time to requeen and set the tone for the year ahead.
Spring is about setting the stage—giving your bees the resources, space, and health they need to thrive.
Summer: Abundance and Attention
Summer is the hive’s high season. The population peaks, foragers are at full throttle, and honey production is in overdrive. But with abundance comes responsibility.
- Super management: Continue adding supers as needed to keep up with honey flow and prevent overcrowding.
- Regular inspections: Every 7–10 days, check for signs of disease, queen health, and space issues. Be careful not to disrupt the hive’s rhythm unnecessarily.
- Swarm vigilance: Swarming can still occur, especially early in summer. Stay alert and manage splits or extra space as needed.
- Water and shade: In hot weather, make sure bees have access to water and consider providing shade to prevent overheating.
- Monitor mite levels: Keep up with regular testing and treat if necessary, but avoid contaminating honey supers.
Summer is a time to support the hive’s productivity while guarding against complacency. A few minutes of attention each week can prevent problems from taking root.
Autumn: Preparation and Preservation
As the days shorten and flowers fade, the hive’s focus shifts from expansion to survival. The queen slows her laying, drones are evicted, and the colony begins to contract.
- Harvest honey: Once the nectar flow slows, harvest surplus honey—but always leave enough stores for the bees to overwinter.
- Final mite treatments: Treat for mites early, before winter bees are raised. Healthy winter bees are key to surviving the cold months.
- Feed if needed: If stores are light, supplement with sugar syrup to build reserves. Remove syrup before temperatures drop to avoid moisture issues.
- Reduce entrances: Install entrance reducers to keep out cold drafts and deter robbing.
- Check for disease: Inspect brood and comb for signs of disease. Address any issues before closing up the hive for winter.
Autumn is about shoring up resources, tightening defences, and setting the hive on a path to resilience.
Winter: Rest and Resilience
Winter is a season of patience. The bees cluster tightly, conserving warmth and feeding on their stored honey. For the beekeeper, the task is to support without disturbing.
- Minimal intervention: Avoid opening the hive unless absolutely necessary. Disturbing the cluster can be fatal in cold weather.
- Monitor food stores: Gently lift the hive to estimate weight. If it feels light, consider adding fondant or dry sugar on top bars.
- Clear entrances: Make sure entrances are free of debris, snow, or dead bees to allow for ventilation and cleansing flights.
- Check for moisture: Tilt hives slightly forward to prevent condensation and water pooling inside.
- Plan ahead: Use the quiet months to clean equipment, repair boxes, and reflect on the season’s lessons.
Winter is a reminder that sometimes the best care is restraint. Trust in the preparations you made, and let the bees do what they do best.
The Thread That Connects Us
A year in the apiary isn’t just a cycle of chores—it’s a conversation with the natural world. Each season asks something different of us: patience in winter, energy in spring, attentiveness in summer, foresight in autumn. And through it all, we’re reminded that beekeeping is less about control and more about partnership.
When we tune in to the needs of our bees and the cues of the seasons, we become part of something larger—a living, breathing system that rewards care with abundance, and respect with resilience. That’s the real harvest, year after year.
Listen to your bees. Learn from the seasons. And remember: every good hive is built, not just by bees, but by the hands and hearts that tend them—one thoughtful season at a time.
