Two entries in August?
   Yep!   Hives have been treated and winter prep is beginning.

September is arriving, time to make sure you have finished treating. Look your hives over and combine the weak ones, or move weaker hives into nucs and overwinter them that way.
   How much honey do your hives have? Do you need to feed syrup to insure they have enough?
   Doing your organizing now gives them time to do their own, and be as ready as they can be for winters arrival.
   Lets all HOPE, that it is a mild winter like last year!

   It has been a very busy summer. My wife is working in Maine, so I am attempting to do everything, from mowing the yard, cutting fields and making hay to increasing my hive numbers. Time has been hard to come by. I have increased to over 80 hives, I expected to do better, but the TIME factor has hurt me.
   A picture of my home yard with nucs and new pallets;

   More pallets are built and ready to move the nucs into.
   The rains this year have come almost perfectly in this area. At times, they were a little too intense, but the timing has been good. The bees built up exceptionally well, despite being split so many times.
   Now that August is here, i noticed a lack of incoming nectar, and that the hives were getting lighter, so I have started feeding, and the bees are taking the syrup readily. This will allow them to continue building up and storing feed for winter, as well as making comb.
   Almost time to get the vaporizors out and treat for mites. I will try to get a picture of the operation in progress.
   With a little luck, the Goldenrod will bloom, and the natural nectar they produce will help the hives prepare for winter.
   Now is the time to start looking at the hives to assess their condition. As September arrives, it will be time to start combining weak hives to make strong hives and finish feeding and preparing for winter. Don't forget to treat for mites! It is important to insure your hives are as strong as possible. Treating NOW will insure that the emerging bees will be healthy and strong, so that the generation they raise will go into winter well prepared.
   Start making your candy boards, or sugar cakes. Don't get caught if winter decides to arrive in October rather than November!
    Keep your bees happy and healthy!
   Scott