Revisiting the coolest Montana bee house

I love cool bee structures. This set-up was built by Michael Skeels of Frenchtown, Montana. I published photos of this bee house back in October of last year, just as construction was finishing. Now it’s up and running and full of bees.

Michael sent this update in response to my post about protecting hives from high winter winds. He writes:

Concerning nighttime worries for our bees, this year I hope to have put them to rest. First I built insulated tops and bottoms for all four with 2-inch insulated boards on three sides, leaving the front open facing south. I then added a candy board and quilt box. All four are packed with honey and treated for mites. Most all of the ideas came from you, including my bee house. Thank you so much. I believe I’ve done about all I can for them but I do plan on keeping an eye on them with a thermal imaging camera on loan from the Big Sky Beekeepers club in Missoula, MT. through the winter.

The hives look nice and cozy and the building is an inspiration. I hope you enjoy this instructive photo as much as I do.

Rusty
Honey Bee Suite

Here is photo taken November 30 of the bee shed with the awnings down and the 24 x 48 1/2-inch plywood up to block the wind. © Keith Schultz.