Each time I read the following letter, I get a picture in my mind of the honey bee hives I used to see as a kid in rural Pennsylvania: peeling paint, rotting boards, rain-admitting gaps and holes. That was before Varroa mites and a host of other diseases, and colonies persisted for decades until the […] Read more
Due to some irritating software issues, I’m behind in adding photos to the website. But here are a few highlights from the last couple of weeks. First, this unusual hive belongs to Dr. Michael Ishitani. He writes, “For my Italian and Carniolan hives, with a decorative skep, cedar shingle roof and copper peak, national flag, […] Read more
“I started keeping bees this year and have one 8-frame Langstroth hive. Next year, I want to expand and was thinking about getting another Langstroth hive and a top-bar hive. Do you have any suggestions for resources on top bar hives?” I am not actually going to answer your question, instead, I’m going to preach. […] Read more
Dear Readers, I’ve been thinking that it would be fun to see some of your hives. We talk about them all the time without ever getting to see them. So, if anyone is interested, I’m going to start a little photo gallery with images you submit. I don’t have a photo uploader on my site, […] Read more
Today I am venturing away from science into the world of wonderment. Sorry, but sometimes I get to thinking too much and then I start wondering about things I can’t answer . . . like why some people name their hives. Mind you, this is not a criticism. It’s just a question. Why do some […] Read more