I've been keeping bees for a while now, and for most of those years, my record-keeping was less than perfect.

Paper worksheets stuffed into a clipboard. Ink smeared from writing while working in the hives. Half-finished entries because the colony was feisty, or I was hot and tired at the end of the inspection day. And when I sat down a week later to figure out what I'd seen on the last go-around, I sometimes couldn't make sense of it.

If you've kept bees for more than a season or two, some of that probably sounds familiar.

As winter’s chill finally gives way to the gentle warmth of early spring, our honeybees emerge with eager anticipation. Among the season’s first gifts are the vibrant crocuses, their purple and golden blooms pushing through the last remnants of frost. These hardy little flowers provide precious nectar and pollen when the bees need it most, fueling their tireless work as they rebuild their colonies after the long, quiet months.

February might seem early to think about planting, but now is actually the perfect time for Southeast Tennessee beekeepers to start planning their forage gardens. While you won't be planting for a few more weeks, getting organized now sets you up for success.

Recent research published in Microbial Ecology[i] highlights the critical role of the honeybee gut microbiome—an invisible but essential community of beneficial bacteria—in overall colony health. Honeybees are unable to fully digest pollen on their own and instead rely on these gut microbes to break down tough pollen walls, ferment complex carbohydrates, detoxify certain sugars and plant compounds, and support immune function.

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Don't be alarmed if your honey becomes cloudy or thickens during storage. This is called crystallization. It is not harmful nor is it any indication of deterioration.