Our bees have gone into this winter in excellent condition. Manna Gum (Eucalyptus viminalis), Swamp Gum (Eucalyptus ovata) and Mountain Grey Gum (Eucalyptus cypellocarpa) all flowered profusely in the autumn and the bees had access to copious high quality pollen which gave them plenty of protein to produce winter bees and to keep their bodies in peak condition. Hives have been wintered in doubles and are very heavy with honey. The bees should go into Spring as strong colonies ready to pollinate crops and to take advantage of the Yellow Gum (Eucalyptus leucoxylon) honey flow. All hives were requeened with red Italian and Carniolan queens which were very vigorous and produced large populations of quiet hard working bees.