…who are now scurrying to get ready for winter. They do seem to be a bit more nervous and testy during this time of the year. They realize I think, that they don’t have much more time to prepare. The major nectar and pollen harvests are over for them, they’ve kicked all the slackers out of the hives, the drones, who can’t seem to do anything for themselves (including even the simple things like feeding themselves) and would seriously burden a hive during the winter months.
Our bees didn’t manage to collect enough to see themselves through the winter. They’re still collecting what they can, but it won’t be enough, so, during the past few weeks, Peer has fed them up on sugar water. They’ve collected it all and are now busy making honey with it. They’ve got one more treatment to undergo for mites and then that’s pretty much it for the year. Peer has done all he can to ensure their survival…once the hive is closed for the winter you just don’t open it again, so only time will tell, they will either survive the winter or they won’t.
Here is one of the few salvageable “junk” items that we found on the property when we moved here. It’s an old watering trough. We use it to catch rain water that comes off of our roof which we use to water the garden. The bees use it as a watering hole…
The plant growing in it is a Swamp marigold.
All day long this spot is full of thirsty bees, I love to watch them drinking, it’s not something you see every day…well, not something most people see every day 🙂 The problem with a deep watering hole like this though is that the bees seem to fall in fairly frequently and they usually drown, they don’t do well in the water. That’s why there are a few pieces of floating wood…little life rafts 🙂
What an interesting post. I have never seen bees drinking before. I like the idea of the bee rafts.
Sara from farmingfriends
What beautiful photos. It’s very interesting reading about your hives. I hope they make it through the winter!
I love hearing about your bees. I have always thought about keeping a hive but it seems like there is so much to learn.