Well I took 3 breeders on Saturday and performed my first graft. It is always an exciting time to do the first graft of the season. I am starting to see drones running around in the colonies and nice patches of capped and uncapped drones. So there should be lot's of them out by the middle of May. This is the earliest I can graft in this environment. There has always seems to be a mating window around Mothers Day Weekend. Maybe the Lord sends some extra sun down just for all the mom's! There are a couple pockets in the Okanagan that you can get mating weather earlier, but not here. I have always been curious about the Kamloops area. I think if you could ramp up drone production you could possibly get mated queens early May around there. 

Anyhow the strong colonies are 6+ frames of brood and they are chomping at the bit. They are starting to build burr comb and bringing in lot's of pollen. I haven't noticed much spring dwindling at all this year. I know better than to forecast the weather but it may be a heavy swarm season if they continue their path thus far. Generally spearking a heavy swarm year often translates into good honey production.....now I am way ahead of myself!