Today was a warm day for the final autumn inspection.

I checked on all my hives making sure they had enough supplies to get through the cold months, and that all ventilation was open to help prevent water and damp building up in the hive and dripping down on the bees.

All looked to be in good shape though one hive was very wet so I poked holes in the propylis covering some of the ventilation... they will block it up again but at least it will dry out a bit in the meantime.

I am on the committee of the Illawarra branch of the ABA in NSW and we have just started running our urban beekeeping courses. So if you are keen to learn about beekeepng head on over to www.beekeeperssutherland.org.au

The club has amazing facilities and the people there are great with hundreds of years of combined beekeeping knowledge to draw on.

So it's been a bit wet recently and I haven't been able to check on the hive at Mandy's place that I re-queened very late and have been feeding and hoping will survive.

Today was perfect at 20C and little wind.  I timed it so the sun would be shining on the hive and went over for a look with some more 2:1 syrup that I warmed up to act as a bit of a heater.

The hive is still small but there is a fair bit of brood so she is laying and we are expecting some dry weather for a week or so which means they will finally be active. As there are lots of flowers in Mandy's garden and lots more coming up, I think they will be OK, which is a relief. I have fed them six litres of 2:1 syrup so far which should be enough to give them a leg up and help them make it.