Backyard Apiary

The main honey flow has come and gone. Now there really isn’t much for the bees to gather for the next month. They’ll use what they’ve stored up until the next honey flow. Many of my hives are still relatively small because they started as swarms and need to build up. For this reason, I plan on feeding them syrup. I boiled 10 lbs of water, removed from heat and then added 10 lbs of sugar. I gave a quart of syrup to the weak hive by the raspberries and to the split with the purchased queen. Antheia already has a top feeder in place and I’ll give her a gallon or two in the morning. The hive at the community garden will also get a gallon or two.

I think I’m going to make a few pollen patties. I don’t think any of my hives really need them, but I have the pollen, never made them before and it doesn’t hurt to give them more pollen. It may even get the hives to build up quicker. I need more of my hives to be good and strong if I have any hopes of being able to make a starter hive for raising queens. I still have not even unwrapped the grafting tools.