🐝 The Flow That Isn’t: Late May in the Bee Yard

It’s the tail end of May, and if you’re like us, you’re staring into your honey supers wondering where the nectar is.

We’ve had an unusually hot, dry spring here in South-Central Texas — the kind of weather that tricks you into thinking it’s July, not May. And unfortunately, the bees are feeling it too.

Normally by now, we’d be seeing supers start to glisten and gain weight. But across our yards, we’re seeing dry comb, testy bees, and colonies that are holding steady — but not building up much surplus.

Here’s what we’re watching for and doing in our own bees this week:

✅ What We’re Doing in the Bees:

• Cracking supers and checking for nectar — most are still light.

• Watching for signs of robbing or dwindling stores in smaller colonies.

• Inspecting brood patterns and queen performance — this heat can throw things off.

• Feeding light syrup in hives that need a boost.

• Adding shade, adjusting ventilation, and making sure bees have easy water access.

• Reassessing swarm management as some colonies still want to run despite the conditions.

If you’re seeing similar patterns — or something totally different — we’d love to hear what’s going on in your bee yard. Beekeeping is regional, seasonal, and never the same twice.

And if you’re crossing your fingers for rain… so are we.