Thank you for more information on honeybees! Always enjoy learning.

I'm wondering about honey bees preparing for winter - do they migrate to warmer temps or do they stay put?

They stay put in their hive. From now until frost stops the plants blooming in colder areas they will be busy storing honey for winter use. They store more than they actually need and just before it gets too cold for them to fly they will eat the extra honey if you don't take it off first. When the temperature drops below 50 they cluster together and vibrate their wing muscles to generate heat. Think of a swarm to get an idea of this clustering, only in a tighter ball. The colder it gets, the tighter the cluster is. The queen is always kept in the center of the cluster. And they rotate positions so everyone can get to the honey to feed. When they are in a tight cluster, they can't move and if it stays that cold for too long they can starve to death even though there's plenty of food available because they can't move to reach it.

Wow honey bees really are amazing little creatures.

It gets pretty cold here in the winter (colder than most parts of Texas). So when placing the beehive, it's probably a good idea to have it facing to the south, so in the winter they are at least getting the sun shining on the hive to keep them warmer.

In your area I'd select a spot that is sheltered from winds but gets plenty of sun in winter. Which way it faces isn't as important as protection from winds and sunshine to help warm the hive. But at the same time you want to select a spot that offers some shade in the summertime.

Great, thank you Margaret.

We'll have to find a spot for the bees that is comparable to how our house is situated. Maybe in a lower area of our hilly terrain so they are better blocked from the wind also.

Our house is shaded on the south side by deciduous trees to keep it cooler, and in the winter when the leaves fall, the sun shines inside, warming us up.

Just remember not to place the hive in a spot that stays damp and you'll be fine.

I will have to go through your lists when I order seeds for next year!
Thanks for doing them.

You are welcome. I hope to get back to doing the lists for next year. Life has been crazy around here.