I have several of my apiaries right along the 45th as it crosses my 
territory just south of the Canada border.

Your flows seem similar to ours. Don't you have a flow starting in 
mid-June, also? Honeysuckle, brambles, clovers, and sumac? Our August 
dearth...no longer there if enough Loosestrife is in the area...ends 
about the 15th with the Goldenrod flow. That, and Aster lasts a month or 
so and then it's over.

When do I make my nucs? Before, during, and after...that 
flow...Basswood/Sweet Clover.

For making single story nucs, too early (mid-June) is difficult. Too 
much management to keep them in the box if you have lots of other bee 
work to do. Not so bad if you're a backyard beekeeper. Mid-July to 
end-July is better as they bees have time to build a population but 
don't often swarm. Absconding can be a problem if August is very hot and 
humid. In that case, adding a second story with drawn comb is a good 
plan. After the end of July, I find they don't build a large enough 
population and winter/spring with small clusters. Never say never.

I find making them up between mid-June and mid-July the best time for 
me. These, provided there is a flow, can be expanded upwards. With a 
decent flow and nucs made just before that July flow you have, the nucs 
will draw out four frames of foundation...something every colony/apiary 
needs. Then if you expand that nucleus colony in the spring...it already 
has four new combs...onto ten frame equipment, the second brood box can 
be six more foundations and four or so brood combs in the middle. That 
mean the double deep colony will have ten new combs in their first full 
season. Nucleus colonies are a great way to get additional combs drawn out.

Mike


On 12/2/2011 8:39 AM, Bob Darrell wrote:
> Hi Mike and all
>
> I am located at 44N as Allen says you are.  Our heaviest flow 
> (basswood sweet clover) normally starts early to mid-July followed by 
> a dearth in August.  I assume that yours would be similar.  When is 
> the mid-summer you speak of when you nuked your non-productive 
> colonies, before during or after that flow?
>
> Bob Darrell
> Caledon Ontario
> Canada
> 44N80W

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