As we’re getting into September already, the bees are starting their fall prep and so is their beekeeper! I’ll be working this month to pull the last boxes of honey off the hives as our bloom periods start to wrap up. The honey coming in this month will be made from the nectar that comes from Asters, Japanese Knotweed, clematis, goldenrod, and maybe a little spotted lanternfly honeydew. The flavor is richer, almost like maple syrup, molasses, and brown sugar. You can see above that the bees have still been filling frames with capped honey, but it’s definitely at a slower pace than we see in the spring and summer. Overall this season has been a bit of a struggle with the weather – it was always too hot, too dry, to wet, too cold, and nothing seemed to go right to make this a good honey season. It’s probably just a little below average, but last year was so above average, it’s hard to see so much less after a year with so much more.
We’ve got LOTS of markets on deck for the fall, and you can find all of those dates through December here. Our annual sampler box should be ready for sale by October and always makes for a great gift. We’ll have some new beeswax candles and a new tea towel design too. Looking forward to the fall and getting our bees happy and healthy and ready for the winter!