Thanks to all for the input.  This thread has clarified a few things this
year.  The two hives I lost last winter were both heavy with fall honey, and
I noticed that the proportion of aster was very high last fall - it
crystallized before I could extract some of it.  I also live next to several
hundred acres of white pine, which may have complicated matters, and there
was no real thaw in our neck of the woods.  Wonderful fall honey, though -
dark and malty.

This probably explains why both hives also showed classic starvation
symptoms, but were right next to unopened honey.  I'm assuming that the bees
can't process the crystallized honey without water, which would be in short
supply in January in Vermont.

Live and learn.

Thanks,

Todd.

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