The season has definitely begun

All four hives which went into winter have survived. All four are now busy and apparently thriving.

There is dropped pollen on the base boards. There are dropped brood cappings. There is evidence that they're cleaning out old cells (the fine brown dust on the base board). There are also wax moth droppings -- showing that wax moth move in while the bees are in their winter cluster. I didn't see any ejected wax moth larvae. I did seem some dead Varroa.

There is lots of blossom around. The season is underway.

I set up an empty hive in my out-apiary in case any of the colonies swarm in April. I've replenished the water spot too. I haven't fed them this spring, although I did feed some of the colonies in Autumn.