As we wind up our last few days of October and head into winter, I cannot help but compare year over year. What a stark contrast I have, when comparing 2020 to 2021. First of all, the weather. I do not think we got a drop of rain in October last year. It was a hot fall. I remember going into November much more worried about the health of the bees also. This October has been just amazing. I have seen some really nice buildup in the bees with some natural pollen, and also I see them responding well to pollen patties. And now, we are finally getting some much needed moisture. At the moment I am writing this, my weather station has registered 8.4" of rain on just today alone. Below the precipitation readings on the console, the readout actually shows "It's raining cats and dogs". The folks at Davis Instruments have a personality.

Make sure that your bee hive equipment is water tight with a good top, this will keep the bees warm, dry and happy. Also make sure there is a little fall one direction or the other to allow any water that enters the entrance to drip back out and not pond up inside on the bottom board. The bees are going to be extremely active at their first opportunity with a break in the weather, so be ready to standby and watch the frenzy. I love the flight after a day or two of rain.

Spencer Wingfield