This rain report is for Pennington Co. MN. The Pennington Co Soil Water Conservation District, SWCD, graphic displays reported rain amounts for the different townships in Pennington Co. MN. Some areas like 8-Deek Park TWP received 3 plus inches of rain, where others like 14-Numedal TWP received less that .50 inch of rain. I always find it curious that in such short distances the amounts will vary as much as it does.
Looking to add some flowering trees to your landscape? SWCD has tree bundle for sale.
Well my friends... the buzz is back!The NWMBA had a successful drop off and pickup at our usual meeting spot, the Petro Pumper Trucker's parking lot. We had to deal with strong westerly winds as did the the bees outside their individual packages, but all in all it was a good day. I, unfortunately didn't take any photos, but one. A quick shot of a few packages in the back on my pickup. From my point of view, it was fun to see old friends (the truckers) again, and the thousand upon thousand of bees. Oh, I took my two stings for the year, so the rest are for y'all! 😉
USDA diagnosis of bee diseases has been a focus of this laboratory since its inception in 1891 and we operate a "Bee Disease Diagnosis Service" for beekeepers across the U.S. There is no charge for this service.
For more information => Field day
Here in northern Minnesota, spring is a long time coming. Some years spring comes in March other years May. Until I moved to Alaska in the 80s, August was the only month I hadn't experienced snow in Minnesota. On an August Caribou hunting back in the 80s, I got stranded in the mountains south of Fairbanks for 2 days beyond my scheduled stay. I digress.... The 3 mile radius around the apiary is the area I like to call the "Bee Pasture". That's some 18 thousand acres of forage space. So, depending on the year's spring, Willow is most often, if not the first, to provide resources for the Honey bee to access. Both pollen and nectar can be found in abundance. In Minnesota we have some 18 different species of Willow. The most common in the northern parts of this state are the Pussy Willow (Salix discolor) and the Bebb's Willow (Salix bebbiana). These two Willows are often confused for one another.
The Pygmy and Masked Shrews are North America's smallest predators most often less than 3 inches in length and small enough to squeeze through holes down to about 1/4 inch. That's basically this size of a pencil if you are wondering. As you do for bears you must do for Shrews. No not a mini electric fence, but reduce entrances down so just a single bee can pass through.
Jennifer, VeAnn and Brenda working our information booth at the Master Gardeners Spring event 2026. Steve provide some honey to sell.
Blue snow is created by Eastern Cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus), sometimes deer, that are feeding on particular types of plants. Up here in NW Minnesota this particular plant is the European Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica). As the Cottontail consumes the berries or bark of the Buckhorn there is a chemical reaction takes place when it's exposed to sunlight or oxygen due to oxidized phytochemicals...Urination in other words.
The NWMBA calendar is now available. You'll find the calendar under the ABOUT drop down menu.
