So I see all our overseas friends in colder climates discussing their season length, and when to start leaving honey for the bees to overwinter. Its hard to tell how it might relate to us in Australia, as we don't have issues with hives being buried under snow (unless you're in the Victorian Alps may be, or Tassie somewhere)?
Obviously Darwin will be different to Launceston, but in my southern queensland environment, how long do the bees shut down and stop working? We've had an ealry cold snap here this year, and had some 3C temps this week, but that's about 2-4 weeks early for sub 5C temperatures. A long winter and we might see temps like that until September, after the August westerlies finish, but we also have day temps in the high 20's during August as well.
So is that the range I'm looking at? Early May to late August, or is there likely to be activity all winter, given we have 15C days at least most of winter? Or does it more depend on floral resources available?