The wet weather that has blown in with May may have kept the bees in their hives but it has only increased the forage available – now the orchard floor has changed from primrose yellow to bluebell blue and wild-strawberry white. The pear and plums have given way to a mass of pink and white apple blossom –  full of bees at 6.30pm!
In the woods the Acers are in full flower and the Horse-chestnut, the signal to start hive inspections when I began beekeeping a dozen years ago, is now in full flower.  The fields and hedgerows are bursting with blossom.  The bees have a bumper forage crop and if the weather is kind the hives will be well supplied.