October has been a very dry month. Did it even rain once? While the goldenrod arrived last month to provide a food source for the bees, the lack of rain has brought their blooms to an early end. I have been giving the bees sugar water to supplement the lack of water and also gave them a homemade pollen patty for some extra protein as they approach winter.
Once temperatures dip under 55, I will not open the hive, nor will they come out, so it’s important to stock them up with enough supplies for the cooler season.