> 
> This spring, due to incessant rain, coupled with foraging breaks that
> happened to occur during either pollen or nectar dearths, it was clearly
> evident just how important a balance between protein (pollen) and sugar
> (nectar) income was to my colonies.  Nectar without accompanying pollen
> didn't do the trick.  Somewhat surprisingly, abundant pollen without
> accompanying nectar didn't do it either.

In Australia there are many important trees that produce a heavy crop of
honey, but are pollen short.  We have always had to deal with this in some
appropriate way.  Usually by having the pollen coming from some other source
at the same site.  Napunyah, or yapunyah depending on what state you come
from, is one such tree, growing in, and adjacent to watercourses.  It grows
over a vast area in the dry interior.  Local rain is required to provide the
ground flora to supply the pollen.  Misjudge this and you may lose half your
outfit as the bees work themselves to death, but cannot replace the work
force.  Hives full of honey, but no bees.

Geoff Manning

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