The Pollen Was Coming In… But What About the Nectar?

8/22/26 After spending the last several weeks treating all five of my colonies with multiple rounds of oxalic acid vapor, I had mostly been staying out of the hives. But it had been a while since I had done a thorough inspection, and with winter preparation becoming increasingly important, it was time to see what was actually happening inside my entire apiary. I inspected all five colonies for: 🐝 Queen status 🥚 Brood and laying pattern 🐝 Colony population 🍯 Honey and food stores 🌼 Pollen coming in 👑 Queen cells and signs of possible swarming I had been seeing a LOT of pollen coming into the hives, so I expected that might be a good sign for fall resources. But one of the biggest lessons from this inspection was that *pollen coming in does not necessarily mean nectar is coming in.* The bees had honey stored—but they had also clearly been consuming some of the reserves they had when I last checked them. And then there was the queen-cell situation. This time last year, my colonies nearly caught me off guard with queen cells, apparently responding to what may have been a strong fall flow and a false sense that conditions were right to swarm. So this year, I was specifically looking for them. I found TWO queen cells. Did I remove them? Did I leave them? And why? More importantly, was that the right decision? Come along as I work through all five colonies and try to determine whether my bees are actually heading in the right direction for winter—or whether there are some things I need to address before the season changes. Thanks for coming along with me as I learn, observe, and try to make the best decisions I can for my bees. 🐝 Thanks for watching! I’m Brittany — a backyard homesteader, maker, and small business owner sharing my journey of simple living, creativity, and building my handmade brand, Brittany’s Botanical Bling. 🌿 Shop & Learn More: https://BrittanysBotanicalBling.com 📷 Instagram: Instagram: BrittanysBotanicalBling 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?... From backyard chickens, gardening, and beekeeping to DIY crafts, cozy home projects, and small business growth — you’ll find tips, tutorials, and inspiration here. Some of the links in this description may be affiliate links. That means if you click and purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting my channel! #backyardhomesteading #simpleliving #frugalliving #handmadebusiness #smallbusinessjourney #brittanysbotanicalbling #Beekeeping #HoneyBees #WinterPreparation #BeekeepingInspection #Bees