We had a hot week followed by a cold week and then yesterday the temperature got to 20, so I decided to have a quick look at my hives and to feed that poor little split from Autumn that is hanging in there.

I got a big surprise with the eucalypts in Lane Cove in flower and hives 2, 3 and 4 very very busy, frantically gathering pollen and nectar.

A visit to hive 5 at Mandy’s showed they’re still hanging on, waiting for spring so I gave them a candy block. I am usually against feeding; if you leave enough honey it’s not needed. But if I don’t feed they will perish as the poor weather did not allow enough reserves to be built up in late Summer/Autumn.

I think this is going to be a very busy spring with lots of swarms already so I have put a couple of bait hives out with lures in them as an experiment to see if they attract occupants.

15/8/2011