Things to consider in August.

Please remember the geographic diversity of Canterbury, from the warmth of Christchurch and the coast to the chills of the foothills, giving specific info here is difficult.
Getting to know your local climate is very important as what one person does this month, may need to happen next month for you even though there is only a few KM's between you.

Check food supplies - a full depth box weighs about 40kg and a 3/4 is about 30kg's when totally full, so if its too cold to open the hive you can lift/try to lift the complete hive (assuming the straps done up tight) to check weight.
If you are running double brood boxes, the hive wont need to be twice as heavy because one 3/4 box of food should be sufficient till the spring flow.

2kg white sugar into 1L hot water and dissolve thoroughly (stove top) will make 2L mixture and is the desired feeding ratio.
4L mixture is approximately 1 frame of honey energy wise.

1kg into 1L is the ratio to stimulate the queen to lay, it simulates a spring flow. Getting the timing right for this can be tricky and can lead to more feed being required if done too early.
Sometimes its best to let the bees do their thing.

Think about your varroa control program with regard to your local climate, current infestation level, and when you are wanting to collect honey.
Read the packaging and remember, treating for varroa with low brood numbers is better than when a large number of brood is present. If the brood numbers are low the mites tend to stay on the bee's and cannot hide under the capping of the brood so you achieve a better kill rate

Remember if the air temperature is below about 13 degrees and the bees aren't flying then don't open the hive, it can take 24-48hrs for the bees to warm themselves back up depending on the weather that follows.

Assemble or repair woodware for the coming season, check you don't have 3/4 frames hiding in full depth boxes and you have enough good supers with frames and wax for the coming season

If spring seems to be coming on early, be vigilant for a late cold snap as this could do in a weaker hive.

What the bees are doing.

- Queen's egg production will be increasing.
- The brood nest will be growing in size.
- Gathering pollen and feed for larvae.
- Colony growing bigger in preparation for spring.
- Slight chance of raising queen cells in preparation for swarming.

Nectar producing flowers.

Early plums
Peaches
Almonds
Camellias
Pussy willows
Hellibores
Grevillias
Forsythias
Japonica
Early Eucalypts
Kowhai
Banksia
Heather
Rosemary
Winter flowering Clematis
Grape hyacinths and spring bulbs