I had a chance to watch my hive at lunchtime today and there wasn't much activity. It was gray and there were light sprinkles every hour or two throughout the day.
While I watched some of the brave bees who decided to venture out - coming back home - I didn't notice any pollen on their hind legs.
I counted only one bee with pollen returning to the hive.
Is this a bad sign? I read on this forum somewhere that pollen was a sign the queen was laying eggs because the larva need to be fed bee-bread (a mixture of pollen and nectar).
If I don't see pollen going in, is there a chance Penelope (the name of my queen) might be no more?
I don't want to open the hive to check because of the weather ... with more rain in the forecast.
Any thoughts.