We have moved several hives out to a beautiful goldenrod field for a late honey crop and to allow splits to build up before the winter.  In respect to the strong colonies, does the goldenrod flow stimulate the colonies to continue raising brood way past the normal point of brood shutdown?  Do colonies from the current year's splits build up well on goldenrod?

I assume that a goldenrod flow should be as effective as feeding thin syrup in encouraging colony build-up.  I read somewhere that the orange goldenrod pollen is high quality as well.

I have read in the Bee-L archives that goldenrod honey crystalizes fairly quickly.  If reasonable goldenrod stores are supplemented with sugar feeding later in the fall, can the bees utilize the stores well?

I should think they'll re-liquify the honey well - one would think the feral colonies pack their comb with late goldenrod in many places, too.

It would be great to hear on this from someone who's had a first-hand experience with this.

Thank you.

Waldemar
LI, NY

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