Here in the Sonoran Desert of Tucson, Arizona - for many seasons I have been able to continue raising small batches of queens, right through the winter. And, though there is often a dearth, as long as I feed carefully, I manage to keep those smaller colonies going, until natural forage becomes available.
I agree, the best lessons in beekeeping are learned when you try doing things for yourself. Either they succeed, or they don't, but if you don't try, you will never know for sure. And, when you are working things out, with your own bees, you are more likely to discover what went wrong, or right with the operation.
I'm sure that most of us, have both kinds of stories to tell. Newbees gotta get them some stories, too.
- - - - -
Heck, I sometimes get swarms in January. Even for this location, that's a big gamble. Sometimes I'm able to help them survive, sometimes I'm not.