Recently someone mentioned that bees do not process sugar syrup into honey
the way they do nectar, and that feeding sugar syrup is good only for
short-term sustenance.  If true, this could present some real problems for
us North-latitude folks, particularly in the Pacific Northwest where we
had arguably the worst season in recent memory.  Virtually ALL the nectar
plants bloomed simultaneously, and were done by mid-July, during which
the weather was generally rainy.  When the good weather arrived in August,
it was hard to find even a clover blosom.
 
Consequently, many of us have been feeding the classic fall 1:1 syrup
since the end of August, and were lucky to extract a few drops of Maple
earlier in June.  The bees seem to eagerly suck up the syrup and pack it
away.  Are they fooling themselves?  How do people in REALLY cold climates
rob any honey, if sugar replacement isn't workable?  I can't imagine the
Peace River folks continually opening their winterized hives to administer
this week's rations.  What's the real story?
 
Jim Osborn, Camano Island, WA
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