I have 7 healthy hives...lots of activity (one is a captured swarm doing very well). I went into four of them this morning to see what my honey crop was like and am so confused at this point. It is almost June and by now I usually have honey frames to pull from my supers. Three of the four hives I checked were loaded with bees and brood (the other one was the recent swarm I caught so I am not counting that one). But I could find very little honey in the hives. There were a few frames of uncapped nectar and the brood frames had some capped honey around the edges, but no stored honey. Nothing. The hives look healthy. I have a QE on two of those hives and one without. The ones with QE's have a super above with little activity, just some drawn comb. I know we have had a cooler and longer spring this year and I have read that the nectar flows may be late because of it. Is that what I am dealing with here in North Florida? I have been watching the hives for swarms but only saw a couple earlier in May. Have they been sneaking away without my knowing and taking all the honey? Any thoughts or suggestions?
Beecuz
"...for breath is sweeter taken even as the last in places dear...
with gardens, fields and dogwood trees...
in forest stands of bamboo shoots...with ginger root and honey bees..."
Beecuz
"...for breath is sweeter taken even as the last in places dear...
with gardens, fields and dogwood trees...
in forest stands of bamboo shoots...with ginger root and honey bees..."