No Surplus Honey

It was the moment I had been waiting for throughout the hot days of summer and the still-hot days of late September, (with the help of what is clearly global warming). The goldenrod remained yellow throughout September, as well as the purple asters. When I saw the last of the drooping, brown goldenrod, I suited up, filled the smoker with ripped up egg carton, wood chips, and dried grass, and carried my tools down the meadow. The smoker stayed lit this time, though I dropped it twice, luckily averting a meadow fire. I pumped some smoke into the hive entrance, and took off the outer cover. I cracked open the inner cover and pumped a bit more smoke into the hive. I had never used smoke, and it made a clear difference in the bee's reaction to me. The bees ignored me completely as they began to gorge on honey. The smoke made me calmer around the hive, but I recognize why many prefer not to smoke if they have a choice. It really seemed to throw the bees and subsequently interfered with their regular activity. Though it helped me ground myself, breathe deeply and relax thoroughly, which in turn made me a better handler of bees and equipment. Perhaps there is a balance then.

The moment of truth came as I pulled off the inner cover...
Nothing- no comb drawn out, no bees (well, three were inside walking around) and absolutely no surplus honey. I was not surprised, though I was a bit let down as I was eager to taste the meadow's blend. To the bees' credit, it is a new hive, I put the super on in late August, and they have had enough to do trying to gather ample honey for their own survival and sealing up the cracks with propolis. I did not clean up the equipment, vowing to do it another day. Instead I returned home and made a batch of sugar water to give them a boost before winter's arrival. Thinking I'd return for fall cleanup, it has rained for a week and I have not gotten down to the hive to prepare it for winter nor have I mouse-proofed it. With this rain scheduled through the weekend, I hope I am not too late next week to do some last minute chores. Keeping bees makes one keenly aware of the weather. It makes one notice such small details. So for all those who waited for gifts of honey, bees willing, Dogstar Farm will try again next year and will aim to have two hives to witness.