July 28th, last graft pulled...start of winter prep!

[BjornBee]

Today, the last graft was pulled. I got 19 out of a 32 graft. Nothing to brag about, but certainly not my worst graft of the year...  :roll:

This was my last graft. Winter prep officially starts tomorrow. I have many nucs to pull queens and combine into larger units over the next month or two.

Many of my 3 and 5 frame Queen mating boxes are void of any honey and on the verge of starvation.

This always seems like the saddest time of the year. All that work, and now everything is reversed. But I know if I wait any longer, things will not get done.

Time to requeen, combine, and get ready for winter. I know I can't wait for some long ago fall honey crop the old timers talk about. Seems to never really happen anymore.

And I never did lose all that weight I wanted too this summer, although I think I sweat'ed about 43,000 gallons of water. Or at least it seems that way.

New beeks, especially in the north.....time is shorter than you think. In a little over 30 days, we will be in September. I'd think about your wintering plans very soon.  ;)

[John Schwartz]

good words/advice!

[D Coates]

You did better than me.  I got a whopping 3 out of 26.   I did much better last year ending up with more than I could handle.  It was hot, and I was sweating everywhere and I was in too much of a rush.  I just grafted again yesterday (only 13) and was much more relaxed and it went smoothly.  Proof is in the pudding though  I'll check them today.  I just had my wife buy 50 pounds of sugar for syrup to get ready to top off their stores for winter.  I'm working on winter food plots for Fall and Winter deer hunting as well.

[gardeningfireman]

I know it's inevitable, but PLEASE, don't even mention the "W" word!! :(

[gundalf]

I know it's inevitable, but PLEASE, don't even mention the "W" word!! :(

Weally!!!

[Scadsobees]

I know it's inevitable, but PLEASE, don't even mention the "W" word!! :(

What word?  Work?        :-D