It should be raining sideways right now in March, but because the East Coast is grabbing all the cold air, we’ve been enjoying 66˙F weather on The Oregon Coast.
Because of the warm spell, we were able to move some things off the light stand in the house and into the garden. These lettuce and Parel cabbage plants, and (bought) broccoli were put into ground today.
March 28…66˙F (18˙C) Looking at tomorrow’s weather forecast, I’m going to have to find a shade cloth for the new transplants. Michael Marlow says it was 28˙F in Western Massachusetts this morning, lightly snowing on the foot of snow already there.
We even brought out the Sun Oven to bake up a pot of beans.
While my wife was transplanting, I was preparing a base for my new log hive. The wood carver said he would bring it out Monday. I think I’m ready with packed sand under these heavy cement blocks.
When I proposed using an old bird feeding station on the log hive, Brian Vorwaller went quiet. I don’t think he really wanted to see that old thing on top of his beautiful creation, so he asked me for another chunk of wood.
March 21…From this chunk of wood (in the care of the wood carver) comes…
…the ‘shake’ roof that will serve as the rain-shedding top of my Grand Kids Log hive. It’s hard to see, but the quilt box is on the bottom 4 inches of it. Brian worked it into the design so well.
March 28…To the bees’ delight, our flowering cherry tree is in full bloom.
The Tower of Jewels echium plants are going to bloom this year…HOORAY! I’ve waited two years for this. They should bloom for about 3 months giving out nectar all day long. How do I know they will bloom?
They have shot up about 4 feet in the last month, but the telltale sign is under the leaves where they meet the main stem…bud beginnings!
Adventures in Natural Beekeeping 
Pat, I think you need may need to give us a little extra thanks this morning…Yahoo weather said it was 9˚ F this morning. Izzy (my chocolate lab) insisted we get a first person/dog account, and I gotta say seemed pretty accurate after a short walk outside. Good news is, no snow. 🙂 And the ten day forecast shows all days with highs of 40˚ F and above, crossing my fingers. Can’t wait to see some bees, flies, moths and all the other six and eight-legged tiny wonders.
10 days of temps over 40˙? Hmmm, does that mean our temps on the West Coast will go back down? I’m sort of happy with the temperatures we have now, but we do need more rain. 🙂
I hope you get the rain. One potential benefit of all this snow is a well-hydrated ecosystem. Crossing my fingers for a busy bug and blossoms season.
Looks as though spring is coming your way fast. Looking forward to seeing the log hive installed and occupied
The log hive will be set up tomorrow, but I don’t expect bees just yet. I won’t be adding the top bars and old comb until the wood protector dries for a good while. Then I’ll just wait for a swarm to move in on its own. That’s the plan anyway. I bait the hive and the bees will decide. I hope it works that way…:)
My log hive mentor has a new log hive idea. Hal waited and waited for his sawmill friends to get an appropriate log, but it never happened. So he built one. I took some video, but agreed not to post it until a swarm decided to move in. As usual, I’ve got observation window envy…he’s always got a good way of looking in, with a perfect handle too.
It was good to see your bees in the sunshine, the dull wet weather over here is keeping me and the bees out of the garden. I love your bumble bee, we don’t get that type in Europe. Amelia
I feel for you Amelia. We haven’t experienced a long wet spring for a few years. Today was another beautiful one but as I look at the weather report I see that cities even as far south as Texas are getting hit hard with cold weather. Weird. I hope your weather clears up soon and you see bees flying around everywhere.
Trying to be happy for you, but I am in Boston and it is has yet to go above 50.
Hi Amy, I looked at Boston’s weather forecast and other than the odd day tomorrow, you’re hovering between the 40’s and 50’s. At least that’s better than all the freezing weather you’ve been getting. I hope your days warm up soon so you can get to the business of some serious gardening.
Good to see you catching and making as much use of the sun as the bees and plants 🙂 The sun has just come out here after three days of snow….the last snow I hope