I have another question about wintering. I located my hive in close proximity to a year-round water source, which is an irrigation ditch. However, in the late winter, I am required to burn-out the ditch to free it from weeds and debris. This comes in the form of a "controlled burn" where only the tall grasses burn and it goes fairly quickly. Here are a few snapshots of the action:
Anyway, my question is this: Since the grasses to be burned are only within a few meters of the where the hive is located, should I take any special precautions before doing the burn this year? Obviously I will stand-by with hose and rake to make sure the flames don't lick the hive. But would the smoke be a problem for the bees? (the burn wouldn't be close to them for more than just a few minutes I should think)