November 1

The first frost was on the grass- and my car windshield- this morning. A cold clear night, and another one tonight, with the moon just rising. 

Pretty much I am as ready as I will ever be with the 25 or so hives I have set up- they are wrapped in bubble wrap, well fed, with a vented top with wood chips, and a big metal roof on top. Half I have started to feed already- damp sugar with some honey in it- per a beekeeper's advice in Vancouver, which made it easy to scoop in a cup and set into the hive, like making a sand castle.

Already two hive, maybe 4, have taken a significant hit in numbers. Others seem fine, but it is way early. Seeing those go tells me how inffective my serious mite treatments were- just like last year. 

Here is a typical hive right now, how I set them up:

 And here are a series of young queen hives, started in August, but I am hoping will survive through to Spring. All with insulation and vented tops.

Here I think are the best hives I have going, though they had a rough year, queen lost, swarming, etc. Still, powerful. I am hoping they make the year.