Beekeeper Fred Davis updates us on the honeybees that live on the roof the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. located at 145 Queen St. W., here in Toronto:

It's been a long, tough summer for all the honeybees in Ontario. I've been reading quite a bit and speaking with a number of beekeepers and the indications are that the extreme heat and humidity really played havoc with the flowers and the amount of nectar they were able to produce. As a result there was very little food to gather and produce into honey. Much of the honey that was produced stayed in the brood chambers for food for the existing bees. Very little was produced in the honey supers. Many beekeepers are reporting a reduction of 40 percent in honey production. Unfortunately the bees at the Four Seasons Centre also had a tough time and, as a result, there wasn't much honey produced this year.

My focus now is to ensure that the honeybees are well fed for the winter and medicated as required. All the hives appear to be quite healthy which is very encouraging after such a tough summer. The Four Seasons Centre staff were very helpful and they provided water to the overheated bees throughout the summer!


Thanks, Fred!