Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => RAPID BEEYARD GROWTH => Topic started by: pdmattox on November 21, 2006, 11:25:31 am

Title: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: pdmattox on November 21, 2006, 11:25:31 am
I would like to see some photos of other bee yard's and layout ideas. 



(http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid207/pc1cd77f4fe96a87fd96f17c9ef51a129/eebfd4a6.jpg)
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: newbee101 on December 12, 2006, 07:50:11 pm
I have posted this before, but It would be nice to see EVERYONES bee yard here in one place.
(http://www.acmepainting.com/fallwrap.jpg)
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: lively Bee's on December 15, 2006, 02:21:23 am
I dont have any photos but I can tell you I lay my yards out in 3 rows 5 feet between the rows and 2 feet between the hives.  Looks some thing like this

x   x   x   x   x
   x   x   x   x   x
x   x   x    x   x
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Cindi on December 15, 2006, 11:29:45 am
I like your chair that I see down beside the rockery, it must be a perfect view of the hives from it.  Great day.  Good idea to get people to put their pics here.  I put one on before too, but I'll put it back in the forum again, here.  You can see I had a chair there that day it was taken, usually there are several, but someone must have used a chair elsewhere.  Great day.  Cindi

(http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/9542/july06027smallyw4.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Jorn Johanesson on December 15, 2006, 12:58:12 pm
 Hello Cindi! Bear protection or ??
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Cindi on December 15, 2006, 02:55:06 pm
Hello Cindi! Bear protection or ??

Jorn, ya, bear protection.  We live along a bear path.  They travel along the ravine near to our home and then just carry on out of the ravine, along our property and then onto the neighbours living towards the east and then further I guess.  I wanted to protect the bees the best that I could and my husband never does anything in a small way.  He built a fortress for me.  I am a lucky woman.  The bears are more prevalent in the early summer, then don't seem to come around much until the next summer, sightings are now and then during summer and fall.  I have some posts that I have submitted that tell of a couple of stories about dogs and people "getting" the electric fence.  You could find them if you looked at my previous posts, they are a hoot and a hollar.  I had the pleasure of actually feeling it a couple of times too.  Gotta laugh.  There was one time when I bent over to gather some seeds and got it right in the rear end, now that was a jolt and a half.  Thank goodness I am rather toughed butted!!!  My poor neighbour that lives about 1/2 km through the bush westward of me had the bear rip apart her two hives in April.  I felt so bad.  She had them sitting out in her backyard (no fence of any sort) and the bear just helped him/herself.  She fixed them up and put a fence of some sort around it and managed to get a little bit of honey for herself eventually.  Brother oh brother, gotta love the beasts, but at the same time they can be a nuisance.  One other beekeeper that I know of has about 100 hives that he uses mostly for pollination of the blueberries, cranberries and a few others (lets his hives out for rent), in the wintertime when they are in his beeyard only has an electric fence that is not much more than knee-high.  I know this cause we stepped over it to go ito it.  I was shocked, but he said the bears in his neck of the woods know what the fence does.  He also in the time when the colonies are in his beeyard, has metal screening that he places on the ground so that if anything walks on it, watch out, he has cows to deal with in his beeyard, and he says that they are totally AWARE of the apiary and leave it alone.  Yikes!!!  Have an awesome day of days.  Cindi.  We have very, very strong winds today, my windchimes are going nuts!!!!
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: BEE C on January 13, 2007, 07:21:22 pm
Heres my two hive hut.  All snug and snowed in.(http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid222/pd75ef6d6af8e791d66015c3bd1b32716/eb1bf697.jpg)
Jan 11, 07
here it is in summer.(http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid207/pbd5e4ac9a1bef5cf313ec2d0763e6820/eeb2a9ff.jpg)
I always enjoy pictures of bee yards, each is so unique.  I'm cindi's neighbour kind of, and we share similar habitat, and bear problems.
(http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid216/p7972cfd7576a85c6bcc99d83c175031c/ec8a02ae.jpg)
it would be really awesome to have this post continue, perhaps even a Section where people could post seasonal updated pictures of bee yards.  I would love to see others bee yards, I find it so interesting, the cohabitation of bees with people.  I particularly like the slovak bee houses and top bar hive set ups, bee villages different than my own. Beemasters set up fascinates me as the bees and neighbourhood kids have equal access to each other, which is an excellent way for teaching kids about bees. 
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: TwT on January 13, 2007, 11:44:23 pm
DALLAS, nice picture of the bee yard, dont see how any others could be better than that!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Cindi on January 13, 2007, 11:55:25 pm
Steve, ha, you have made a very nice little house for your girls, good for you.  Great day.  Cindi
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Billy The Beekeeper on February 28, 2007, 01:26:05 pm
i only got 2 hives so not much a layout yet im lookin to get another one this summer after i get my one back up and runnin from wintering over and how do u put pics on posts like that ? i cant figure it out  :? :D
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Robo on March 05, 2007, 09:34:53 pm
Here is my "portable" beeyard :-D

(http://www.bushkillfarms.com/gallery2/d/652-1/Picture+047.jpg)
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: pdmattox on March 05, 2007, 09:38:23 pm
That is very cool.  I actually have a trailer system that is just like that.
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: buzzbeejr on March 05, 2007, 10:23:50 pm
well i couldn't find any pictures but until i do this is kinda what it looks kinda like this:
x     x

                 with dads hive
x     x
           


           
                       
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Cindi on March 06, 2007, 12:31:50 am
Robo, now that has gotta be a cool way to keep the hives.  It must be very useful for when you need to move them.  Nice to see pictures of how people handle their colonies' homes.  Have an awesome and good day.  Cindi
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: buzzbee on March 06, 2007, 07:13:26 pm
Rob
Is that colored electric fence or rope?
I see the solar fencer.How does that work for you?  Ken
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Robo on March 06, 2007, 09:42:46 pm
Rob
Is that colored electric fence or rope?
I see the solar fencer.How does that work for you?  Ken


Don't know if I'd call it rope, it is more like a nylon string with 2 stainless wires woven in it.

As far as working, it was put to the test last year when I had 4 bear in my yard.  They actually got into my chicken coop killed a couple of guineas and drug out a 50lb bag of feed.   It took like 4 days of "persuasion" before they stopped coming back and trying to rip the door off my barn.  They never bothered the trailer.  They did get a split that I had in my garden which has a 8ft fence that they easily ripped thru.  I just bait it by taking a piece of hardware cloth, bend it in a 'V', smear it with peanut butter and hang it on the fence.
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: BEE C on March 12, 2007, 06:12:14 am
Very nice robo! Nice little setup with the trailer.  I worked with a guy this summer who said his uncle used a horse trailer because the bears couldn't get into it.  He could just leave it and come back.  I need to get a little trailer like yours for hauling hives at some point, I haven't run  out of back yard yet though...
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: imabkpr on March 14, 2007, 11:09:02 pm
This is one of my bee yards set up for spring feeding.
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Cindi on March 14, 2007, 11:57:30 pm
This is one of my bee yards set up for spring feeding.

Can't see it.  Cindi
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: AllanJ on March 18, 2007, 02:20:04 am
This is my future beeyard.. 13 days and counting..

(http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/879/img2021lk7.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)

And this is the results of clearing the forest floor around the beeyard for the last month.

(http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/3394/img2032nv1.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)

So I have some more room for other bee friendly plants and trees.. :)

(http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/5190/img2036ex9.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Cindi on March 18, 2007, 11:19:26 am
Allan, wow, nice bee yard and you obviously have been working very hard to clear the land.  Excellent.  It looks really good.  What kind of vine is growing on the apiary fence?  It will give a wonderful wind break for the bees and if it has flowers that produce nectar that would be even better.  Why don't you grow some canary creeper vines along it too?  Good job, nice photos.  Best of a great day.  Cindi
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: AllanJ on March 18, 2007, 11:40:16 am
Honeysuckle :) 

It's amazing how your view is changed when you decided to get some bees. I can now spot a tulip poplar from 50 yards. Around the bee yard we have several big red maples which should help in the late winter. They are blooming right now. We also have lots of American Holly, tons of wild bramble (blackberry) and lots of wild flower (roses). Our nectar source looks to be poplar, honeysuckle (I was going to give it to my goats but they are now out of luck), dogwood and some clover. 

Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Cindi on March 18, 2007, 11:49:41 am
I love the honeysuckle.  I have a very fragrant one that grows along my bedroom patio, it blooms almost all summer.  It has pink and cream coloured flowers, not the prettiest combination of colour, but man is it a fragrant thing of beauty.  YOu will be surprised what your bees will find to forage on.  Best of the days.  Cindi
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: dealhound on March 19, 2007, 01:53:46 am
I was in Vermont recently for a vacation when we came upon these beehives beside the road.  There was about two foot of snow in this location and there had been many days when the temp at night was less than -20 degrees.  When I saw this I had to turn around and take this picture.  I am a new beekeeper in the much milder NC climate.  I guess if you can keep bees through the winter in these condtions, I should have no troubles!

Tim

(http://www.martinfarm.com/ebay/vermont_bees.jpg)
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Paul Andersen on March 19, 2007, 02:16:03 am
Allanj,

Nice picture of your future bee yard, just make sure you keep that gate closed so your bees don't get loose!

Paul A
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: AllanJ on March 19, 2007, 07:30:21 am
Tim, I was under the same impression.. but I understand that keeping bees in the middle states can sometimes be more difficult than the northern ones. In VA we had a huge warm up in January with over 70f temps some days and most of the month generally warm. This was followed by a freeze at the end of Jan and well into February. I think a few hives were lost around here because of that..

Paul, That last time I closed that gate it was to keep a Ram inside whilst we repaired some fencing. Lets just say it did not remain closed for long and only recently did I take the 17 pieces and put together that version of the gate :)
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: TwT on March 19, 2007, 07:31:56 am
dealhound, welcome to the site, nice pic with the hives in the snow, you should go to the  GREETINGS/TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF Forum and tell us a little about yourself..


 Nice yard AllanJ
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Cindi on March 19, 2007, 11:15:59 am
Tim, that was awesome that you turned around and took pics of the yard.  Pics are the best thing to see, it takes us to different parts of the world through the eyes of a camera.  I love to see pictures, bring em' on.  Good picture by the way.  Best of the great day.  Cindi
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: woodchopper on March 19, 2007, 07:43:05 pm
Thanks to everyone who took the time to post pictures. My wife Ann {also a member here} and I are going to have three bee yards this year. The pictures with the electric fences REALLY caught my eye. Three of our hives are going to be behind our garage in Maine. There are bears in our town in Maine so an electric fence will be used there. Because the bee yard there will be near an outlet we won't be getting the solar charger. I was thinking about getting fence similar to Cindi's so as to keep out the skunks,racoons,as well as the bears. As soon as our two new bee yards are set up we'll post pictures of all three of them.
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: dealhound on March 20, 2007, 02:41:38 am
dealhound, welcome to the site, nice pic with the hives in the snow, you should go to the  GREETINGS/TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF Forum and tell us a little about yourself..

Done!  Thanks for the suggestion.

Tim
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: imabkpr on March 22, 2007, 07:38:44 am
(http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/2622/dscf0091yw4.th.jpg) (http://img245.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscf0091yw4.jpg)     

THIS IS ONE OF MY BEE YARDS SET UP FOR MASS FEEDING AND SPRING BUILD UP. cHARLIE
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Cindi on March 22, 2007, 10:34:31 am
Charlie, a really nice picture and it looks really great.

I want you to try something when you post pictures to the forum though.  I presume that you are using Imageshack.  If you do what I say, then the pictures that you post will be much larger for the forum members to look at and this is good.  I believe that you used the url that showed up in Imageshack above the picture, this copies them into a thumnail format.  Try this method instead next time (if you don't mind some friendly advice, that is):

Above your picture you will see several links to forum 1 or 2 etc, ignore these.
Below your picture you will see two lines regarding the posting to forum 1 and forum 2
You want to select the first line
"hotlinks to forum 1", highlight the line, it will turn blue
Click on it, then do the right click to copy the picture

We will see your pictures in a much clearer format.  Give it a whirl.  Bring on some more pictures, we all love to see them. You have the best of the best day.  Cindi
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: imabkpr on March 22, 2007, 11:48:02 am
 Cindi;  If you want the picture larger just click on it . It works for me. Charlie
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Robo on March 22, 2007, 11:50:44 am
then the pictures that you post will be much larger for the forum members to look at and this is good. 

Actually it is not.  We have many members that have slow dial-up access and large pictures basically cripple them.   Thumbnail size images help reduce this issue. Too many posts with large images will cause excessive pain to these people to the point they may choose not to visit this site anymore.   That would be a shame and potentially stifle the amount of info that is shared.   Keep in mind,  Michael Bush is one of these people.

This is why the image shack tutorial http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php?topic=6691.0 (http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php?topic=6691.0)  was written to use thumbnails.

The added time it takes those with fast connections to click on the thumbnail to view a larger version is trivial compared to the pain full size images cause those stuck with slow dial-up.

Please don't keep encouraging people to post full size images.
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Cindi on March 23, 2007, 10:15:22 am
Rob, I am so glad that you took the time to explain your comments about the thumbnails.  I had absolutely no clue that there would be any problem for any viewers with the larger photographs.  This bothers me that I did not know that and I deeply apologize to any forum members that may be frustrated that they do not have the capacity to view any pictures posted on the forum.

Ignorance is not bliss, as the saying says that it is.  I have been giving misleading information to many forum members that were asking how to post pictures into their posts and I must give again my apology.  I will post in the "thumbnail" format henceforth so that everyone can view pictures with ease and comfort.  I guess I just get spoiled with internet technology and don't realize that some people do not have the fast high-tec device that I have.  I once upon a time had dial up too, so I understand it can be a very huge process.  Sorry to all. 

Have the best of a wonderful day.  Cindi
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Sean Kelly on March 26, 2007, 05:20:01 pm
Finally finished my bee yard.  No hive yet either.  It's on it's way in the mail.  Cant wait!!!


(http://img45.imageshack.us/img45/600/kellybeeyarduk1.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: reinbeau on April 09, 2007, 08:48:09 am
If you take the time to resize photos you can post 'full size' .jpgs that are quite quick to load.  The problem is many people upload their photos to photo sites without resizing them at all.  So I guess it's better to advise the use of thumbnails (I dislike having to click on them to view them fullsize, but I do see the logic). 
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Robo on April 09, 2007, 09:12:07 am
If you take the time to resize photos you can post 'full size' .jpgs that are quite quick to load.  The problem is many people upload their photos to photo sites without resizing them at all. 

That is true,  but we have a fair amount of people that are relatively unexperienced with a computer and don't have the knowledge or means to resize.  We installed the ImageShack option for those who don't have a normal place to park their photos out on the web and are more likely those with limited PC experience.  We truly value their contribution, but want to also keep those with limited bandwidth in mind too, that is why the instructions direct to use thumbnails.   We do not have any rules about not posting resized images if one knows how to.
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: tillie on April 09, 2007, 09:29:38 am
My bee yard is on my deck right behind my sunporch:

(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k288/tillielin/DSC02823.jpg)

Linda T in Atlanta
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: pdmattox on April 09, 2007, 10:51:25 am
Looks like a great set up and a nice way to enjoy your bees.
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: kgbenson on April 09, 2007, 01:56:53 pm
Here is my "portable" beeyard :-D

(http://robo.hydroville.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=314&g2_serialNumber=1)

Robo - that thing is cool.  Can you describe the upper entrances and the size of the bed of the trailer?

Keith
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Dane Bramage on April 10, 2007, 03:48:59 pm
My bee yard is right there (where the bee is pointing).  A fenced in, decked area with four hives (so far) on benches.
(http://i13.tinypic.com/2aiq0px.jpg)

I'll add some more shots of the layout next time I'm out there with the camera.
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Robo on April 11, 2007, 09:21:46 am
Can you describe the upper entrances and the size of the bed of the trailer?

Keith

The trailer is a 4x8 single snowmobile trailer.  The previous owner had just abandoned it in a ditch, so I got free for the asking.  The plywood decking was rotted, so I removed it,  sand blasted the trailer and gave it a coat of pant.  I ran two 2x4 down each side that the bottom boards are screwed to,  and two 1x6 down the middle to walk on while working on the hives.   I just put a ratchet tie down around each hive to hold them down when moving.

The mid-entrance as I like to call it,  was based off of this design with some "enhancements".
http://robo.bushkillfarms.com/downloads/bee_patents/US06450858_BeehiveMovableTopEntrance.pdf (http://robo.bushkillfarms.com/downloads/bee_patents/US06450858_BeehiveMovableTopEntrance.pdf)
They are in the winter position in the photo, with no honey supers in place. During the summer, the honey supers are placed on top of the entrance.  It is basically a 3" box within a box.  There is 3/8" clearance all around the outside that allows the bees to pass from the brood area to the honey storage area,  but with the middle blocked off,  it keeps the queen down in the brood section.   Instead of just boxing off the center area, I wanted to make it a dual purpose fixture that could be used year round.  So I put a piece of 1/4" or 1/2" hardware cloth on the bottom so that feeder candy could be placed in the box during the winter for feeding.   To prevent the bees from building comb in that area in the summer,  two removable 1/4" sheets are used to block the area off.  One sits on top of the hardware cloth, and the other on the top of the inner box.   Here are some drawings that hopefully give you a better idea of it.   If I ever get the time to finish revamping my new website and get it online, it will have the detailed plans to all my custom stuff.  Including my poor-man's plastic barrel TBH.

(http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/2451/midentrancetk3.th.jpg) (http://img292.imageshack.us/my.php?image=midentrancetk3.jpg)(http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/852/midentranceexplodedww6.th.jpg) (http://img262.imageshack.us/my.php?image=midentranceexplodedww6.jpg)
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: kgbenson on April 11, 2007, 11:52:38 am
Thanks!

Keith
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Cindi on April 12, 2007, 01:05:51 am
Dane, very nice areal picture.  Microsoft Virtual Earth, eh?  Tell us about it.  I have looked at my place on Google Earth, but the pictures were about 2 years outdated.  We have had massive property changes in the past two years and  I wish Google would update.  Best of this beautiful day.  Cindi
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: nepenthes on April 12, 2007, 05:42:04 pm
I think google earth and all those places get their Pictures from the same place so you wont be ab le to just get a new fresh picture, Cindi keep i mind they have to take pictures of LOTS of ground, So don't let that bother you to much. Just give it some time, I know that Where my hose is Is just a picture over practically from having nice crisp clear shots...  :roll:
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Joseph Clemens on April 14, 2007, 01:41:26 am
My bee yard is on my deck right behind my sunporch:

Photo Removed

Linda T in Atlanta
Nice looking hives, but how can you work them without interfering in their flight paths? I would think it might be better to face the hive entrances out from the center of the deck.
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: tillie on April 14, 2007, 09:15:18 am
Quote
Nice looking hives, but how can you work them without interfering in their flight paths? I would think it might be better to face the hive entrances out from the center of the deck.

The hives face east and I stand behind each hive to work them.  I am not in the flight paths - I may find as the hive in the corner of the deck gets stronger that I am in its flight path when I work the hive in front of it, but there is a forest of tulip poplar trees behind the hives and when the flow is on, they tend to fly in from the northwest and I still am not in the path. 

I set them up that way selfishly, though - not with the flight paths in mind, but rather the ability to watch them while I eat lunch!

Linda T
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Dane Bramage on April 14, 2007, 05:42:42 pm
Dane, very nice areal picture.  Microsoft Virtual Earth, eh?  Tell us about it.  I have looked at my place on Google Earth, but the pictures were about 2 years outdated.  We have had massive property changes in the past two years and  I wish Google would update.  Best of this beautiful day.  Cindi

I don't know much about MS Virtual Earth, other than it is another satellite mapping/image program.  You may want to check it to see if it does have different images of your property than Google Earth.  It did for mine.  (here's the google earth version) ~>
(http://i13.tinypic.com/4c7xjf7_th) (http://i13.tinypic.com/4c7xjf7.jpg)
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Cindi on April 15, 2007, 01:21:59 am
Dane. Huoooooeeee!!!  Have a wonderful night and great day, good health.  Cindi
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: bluegrass on April 23, 2007, 06:24:11 pm


Keith



The mid-entrance as I like to call it,  was based off of this design with some improvements from myself.
http://robo.hydroville.com/v12/component/option,com_docman/task,doc_details/gid,21/ (http://robo.hydroville.com/v12/component/option,com_docman/task,doc_details/gid,21/)
They are in the winter position in the photo, with no honey supers in place. During the summer, the honey supers are placed on top of the entrance.  It is basically a 3" box within a box.  There is 3/8" clearance all around the outside that allows the bees to pass from the brood area to the honey storage area,  but with the middle blocked off,  it keeps the queen down in the brood section.   Instead of just boxing off the center area, I wanted to make it a dual purpose fixture that could be used year round.  So I put a piece of 1/4" or 1/2" hardware cloth on the bottom so that feeder candy could be placed in the box during the winter for feeding.   To prevent the bees from building comb in that area in the summer,  two removable 1/4" sheets are used to block the area off.  One sits on top of the hardware cloth, and the other on the top of the inner box.   Here are some drawings that hopefully give you a better idea of it.   If I ever get the time to finish revamping my new website and get it online, it will have the detailed plans to all my custom stuff.  Including my poor-man's plastic barrel TBH.

(http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/2451/midentrancetk3.th.jpg) (http://img292.imageshack.us/my.php?image=midentrancetk3.jpg)(http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/852/midentranceexplodedww6.th.jpg) (http://img262.imageshack.us/my.php?image=midentranceexplodedww6.jpg)
Thanks for posting the image of the mid entrances. I have seen them in beeculture and was wondering how they worked.
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: abejaruco on May 02, 2007, 03:41:59 pm
I have my hives in 3 different locations, to obtein 3 different honeys during the spring. 3 or 4 hives under my mother´s window. She would say under her nostril, because she can´t open the window during the summer. (I think that my mother really wants me very much)

At this apiarium I harvest rosmarino and lavandula honey.

(http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/424/p4080137xh2.th.jpg) (http://img116.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p4080137xh2.jpg)
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Cindi on May 03, 2007, 10:42:28 am
Abejaruco.  I bet lavendula honey would be wonderful.  I only have one plant of lavender.  Oh brother, oh well, I took about 40 cuttings off of my Anise Hyssops and they are rooting and going crazy, so that is 40 more plants that the bees will have.  Maybe one day I will try to put a little colony right inside the hyssop patch and see if I can get licorice tasting honey (LOLL&L).  These cuttings will bloom about 2 weeks prior to the "mother" plants and carry on blooming from July to frost kill.  Have a wonderful day, beautiful life, great health.  Cindi
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: abejaruco on May 05, 2007, 06:24:31 pm
And this is my second apiary. In the middle of the stream to avoid the ants. :mrgreen:

(http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/7189/dsc09480fy8.th.jpg) (http://img262.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc09480fy8.jpg)

Here I harvest honey from trifolium and Hedysarum during the spring...This year is "tope guay"

(http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/7315/dsc09496tp6.th.jpg) (http://img72.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc09496tp6.jpg)

Have I said tope guay? Its incredible, what a year! The earth is bleeding nectar.

(http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/1844/dsc09497tv0.th.jpg) (http://img67.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc09497tv0.jpg)



And during the summer eucalyptus and sunflower.

(http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/1185/dsc09490sr1.th.jpg) (http://img72.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc09490sr1.jpg)
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: DayValleyDahlias on May 05, 2007, 10:37:34 pm
My one little hive:

(http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/3917/img1208wk8.th.jpg) (http://img243.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img1208wk8.jpg)
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Draginol on May 23, 2007, 10:01:51 pm
How many posts do you need to have before you can post images?
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: pdmattox on May 23, 2007, 10:34:57 pm
Draginol, hang in there your almost ready.  It's not a post count thing it is strictly based on your posting.
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Dane Bramage on May 26, 2007, 09:17:55 pm
My bee yard is right there (where the bee is pointing).  A fenced in, decked area with four hives (so far) on benches.
(http://i13.tinypic.com/2aiq0px.jpg)

I'll add some more shots of the layout next time I'm out there with the camera.


Finally got around to taking photos of the hives.  Here's the bee-deck (& "tans with bees", aka Dane Bramage):
(http://i7.tinypic.com/63h8pip.jpg)
I have ten in now... that'll be it for this (my first) season methinks.  Pic was taken ~ 10AM.  The five on the left face West and get the sun earlier.  The five on the right face North.  Both get direct light through much of the day followed by shade (note tree to immediate West) in late afternoon.  All in all I'm pretty happy with this spot (though the deck desperately needs to be refinished  :-P).
Another perspective:
(http://i14.tinypic.com/4zdrn8l.jpg)
there's also so many of these cute yellow and orange bumblers around ~>
(http://i17.tinypic.com/4r1ldvq.jpg)
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: DayValleyDahlias on May 27, 2007, 01:21:35 am
That is one fantastic set up!  Awesome.  Me likie...
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Cindi on May 27, 2007, 01:45:13 am
Dane, I love your set-up, it looks very nice and so easy to get to eh?  I did not see these followup pictures, I only saw the one that came from the sky looking down.  Must have missed it somehow.  Anyways, nice job...have a wonderful day, greatest of life, greatest of health.  Cindi
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Dane Bramage on May 27, 2007, 11:43:36 am
thanks all! (glad ya like it!)   :)

Cindi ~> yes, it's very easy access being just a step down the stairs (terraced back yard), through the gate (gated pool area) and one step up to that back deck.  The hives are easy access as well ~ on the benches = no stooping & I left room  to the front of the hives as well.  The short benches behind each set of five hives are also there so that I could place lids, covers, chambers, supers, etc., on something close (besides the floor).  Since they're behind the hives (& out of flight paths) its a good place to sit, but I prefer sitting down in that corner (where standing in pic) so I can observe the entrances of all 10 hives with flight path(s) going right over my head.  :lol:  Never been stung! (yet, knocks on wood, lol).
Here's the views from the corner perspective:
(http://i15.tinypic.com/6bbyo8j.jpg)(http://i16.tinypic.com/5056tqt.jpg)
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Moonshae on May 27, 2007, 08:29:54 pm
Here's my 10×10 beeyard. Curious to know if my water source is well located. Both my neighbors have pools, so I'd like them to have a more desirable alternative.

(http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/5456/beeyardoutsidetg6.th.jpg) (http://img526.imageshack.us/my.php?image=beeyardoutsidetg6.jpg)

(http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/3366/beeyardleftsidefh0.th.jpg) (http://img519.imageshack.us/my.php?image=beeyardleftsidefh0.jpg)

(http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/788/beeyardcenterpk8.th.jpg) (http://img521.imageshack.us/my.php?image=beeyardcenterpk8.jpg)
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: asprince on May 27, 2007, 08:39:26 pm
Moonshae, how do the milk crates work for hive stands? I have been thinking about using them myself. I have a good supply as well as a supply of plastic Coke trays. I will have to figure out a way to keep the ants out.  Steve
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Moonshae on May 27, 2007, 08:53:33 pm
Moonshae, how do the milk crates work for hive stands?

As long as they are wide enough, they work great. They're stable and sturdy.

Don't the bees keep ants away themselves?
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Cindi on May 28, 2007, 10:15:53 am
Dane, again said, very nice set up.  Now that is one honking big deck!!!!  How large is it anyways?  Define the dimension, I am curious.  Your cat looks like its lovin' life, eh?

Moonshae, you have a very cute little bee yard.  I like your fence around it, who would ever know that you have bees lurking in your back yard eh?  Like the idea of the milk crates for stands.  Innovation, what a cool thing!!!!  Have a wonderful day, great health and life.  Cindi
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Dane Bramage on May 28, 2007, 11:49:44 am
Dane, again said, very nice set up.  Now that is one honking big deck!!!!  How large is it anyways?  Define the dimension, I am curious.  Your cat looks like its lovin' life, eh?
Thanks again Cindi :)
Dimensions eh?  Well, serendipitously enough, that part of the deck is a hexagon and ~ 840 sq.ft.  Use this equation with ~ 18' sides) ~> (http://upload.wikimedia.org/math/6/b/c/6bceead123ad10a579f2d267d545f590.png)  There's a hexagon window in the master bedroom as well.    :shock:
Yeah - Maya (the Bengal kitty) loves it here.  She likes the bee deck too and must have some instinct to not mess with the bees - at least at the entrances.  I think she got stung in the foot once by a crawler, lol.

Moonshae ~> are your bees using the water source you provided?  There's a few threads (as I vaguely recall) on water sourcing. 

Cheers,
Dane
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Moonshae on May 28, 2007, 02:02:10 pm
Moonshae ~> are your bees using the water source you provided?  There's a few threads (as I vaguely recall) on water sourcing.

It's still been fairly cool here, the past two days were our first hot days. I saw a bee crawling on the box, but none in the water itself. While I'm figuring they've found it (since the foragers have found some flowering trees nearby), I don't know if they're willing to use it yet. I'm hoping to see them sitting in there soon (I filled it mostly with small rocks so they can't drown).
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: asprince on May 28, 2007, 07:19:27 pm
Moonshea, You were asking about the ants. Yes the bees will take care of a few. Here in the south, especially as dry as it is, ants can be a real problem and can take over a hive. They can attack by the millions if left unchecked.

Extremely dry and fighting ants here in the south, Steve
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Robo on May 29, 2007, 09:13:47 am
Curious to know if my water source is well located. Both my neighbors have pools, so I'd like them to have a more desirable alternative.


I use to use a dogloo for a water source. Now we have a pool instead :-P

(http://www.bushkillfarms.com/gallery2/d/684-2/igloo.jpg)

I got best results when the water was "spiked" with a little clorox.

and when I moved it about 30 feet from the hives.   There is no magic in that number, I moved it from 5 feet to 30 feet and it all of a sudden got a lot more traffic.

If your really concerned with the neighbors pools,  you can give them water in a boardman feeder.  Once again, consider "spiking" it so that the neighbors pool isn't more appealling.   Once they find the pool, it will be difficult to stop them.
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Cindi on May 29, 2007, 09:30:56 am
Dane, what on earth!!!!  What is with the equation?  Are you like some kind of techy mathmetician (LOL, spelling?).  I don't do equations.  Regardless, sounds cool.

I think that the bees do not like to drink from water that is too close to their hive.  Not sure, but I'm thinking that they like something a little farther away better.  Maybe they are worried about feces in the water that is close (their own poopies) to their hive.  I know when I first started with bees I had a container right inside their yard, never once saw one in it.  Moved it about 20 feet away and there were a few, but not many.  Probably didn't like what I had. 

When I was out working in my new bee barn yesterday and day before I saw a whole bunch of bees, and I mean lots and lots, drinking from the stagnant mucky muck from some run off from the bathtub that the ducks love to swim in.  Oh brother.  To me it didn't even look like it was very wet.  But they were there, sucking up moisture like there was no tomorrow.  Go figure that one.  I guess they filter mucky junk and take what they need.  Have a wonderful day, great life.  Cindi
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Dane Bramage on May 29, 2007, 01:17:01 pm
Dane, what on earth!!!!  What is with the equation?  Are you like some kind of techy mathmetician (LOL, spelling?).  I don't do equations.  Regardless, sounds cool.
lol ~ yes I am (B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering working in Info Tech).  That equation is for the area of a hexagon, which can be determined knowing any side's length (since they're all equal). 
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/24/Honeycomb_cell_3d_rot.png) <~ The three-dimensional geometry of a honeycomb cell.  8-)
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Draginol on May 30, 2007, 12:12:36 am
Here's what I have:

(http://www.stardock.com/brad/IMG_4662_small.JPG)

There's a creek right behind the flowers.
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: pdmattox on May 30, 2007, 12:31:26 am
Draginol ,It looks like a bunch of wild mustard blooming behind the hives.  My bees loved this stuff.
Great pictures everyone.
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Cindi on May 30, 2007, 11:03:32 am
Draginol, beautiful picture  and set up.  Down in the meadow by a itty bitty pool (in your case a little creek), how cool and pretty.  Have a wonderful day, great life, love the life your livin'.  Cindi
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: DayValleyDahlias on May 30, 2007, 11:06:03 pm
Draginol..thats purdy!
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: tennesseebeeman on July 15, 2007, 12:40:38 pm
nm
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Barngodess on July 24, 2007, 08:30:19 pm
Here is my one and only hive ! I've had them now 10 days, because today my mentor came back and helped me with my first inspection. Things look great ! And we have multiplied. He said we went from 1500 to 5 - 6,000. At first I just had 2 strings of electric fence wire. But I saw all the fence some of you have put up to safeguard against bear, so we put up some fence too. Today we added another box on top, to accommodate a new and bigger feeder. Here is the day they brought the hive.

(http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7d935b3127cceb8542715305c00000026108AbNHDFq5YtC)

Here is now, with the fence.

(http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7d900b3127cceb82d6878b3bd00000026108AbNHDFq5YtC)

Funny thing, I posted this pic on my dog forum and one gal said her first thought, was " how is THAT gonna keep the bees in"!

Melissa
 ;)
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: buzzbee on July 24, 2007, 11:19:02 pm
 8-)
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Mici on July 25, 2007, 04:25:05 am
ok..i can see how it's not gonna keep the bees in but,....how's it gonna keep the critters out? against which critters did you actually put it? because it sure wouldn't stop a bear...
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Barngodess on July 25, 2007, 07:55:09 am
It's electrified........ it's low enough to the ground to keep away skunks, plus they will get a "jolt" too..... the guy I got them from only uses one strand of electric fence wire around his, but I have more bear around here.

Melissa
 ;)
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Robo on July 25, 2007, 09:16:51 am
One wire will work fine if it is baited.   I have plenty of bear here and use 2 or 3 wires without issue.  The only hives I have had them get into are some nucs that where in my garden (8ft fence, but not electric). 
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Cindi on July 26, 2007, 10:35:18 am
Melissa, beautiful set up.  I think that it will keep out the bears.  We have bears and our fence is made of livestock wire too, it is electrified, I can attest to that, from the many times I have had an encounter  :evil:

It looks like the hive is set up on a kind of a knoll or something?  Do you live in a mountainous area, it looks beautiful, but is kind of hard to see because of the depth perception of the computer screen.  Send some more pictures of your place.  I love to look at the terrain of where people live, it takes me to their part of their world and it brings such solace and peaceful feelings to my soul.  Have a wonderful day, great life.  Cindi
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: annette on July 26, 2007, 06:36:59 pm
OK guys, I have a digital camera coming this week from Sony and I am going to post some photo's. Can't wait. Hope I can figure it all out (meaning the camera, posting etc.)

Annette
Placerville
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: pdmattox on July 26, 2007, 06:47:50 pm
OK guys, I have a digital camera coming this week from Sony and I am going to post some photo's. Can't wait. Hope I can figure it all out (meaning the camera, posting etc.)

Annette
Placerville

Sounds great. We can help if you need us to, there is like 1900 of us in the forum now and would like to see those pics. :)
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: michelleb on July 28, 2007, 04:16:49 pm
Below is the only decent shot I've got of our first beeyard, right after it was set up...though it's been moved and expanded since. The fence is Premier1 electric netting for bear prevention--this yard is at my property in Columbia County, Oregon.

I love that bee trailer! I'm currently converting a couple trailers to something similar. I'll post pics when they're done!

(http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3722/853/400/EPV0034.jpg)
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Cindi on July 30, 2007, 10:58:51 am
Michelleb.  Nice picture.  It will be nice when you get more current ones on our forum, thanks for taking us into your part of the world.  Have a wonderful day, great life.  Cindi 
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: rdy-b on August 04, 2007, 11:49:12 pm
http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/733/1000055ts5.jpg    http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/3563/1000055rn0.jpg                                                                                                                              http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/6515/1000048vt0.jpg       Photo test #1  RDY-B
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: rdy-b on August 05, 2007, 12:57:55 am
photo test #2  (http://img115.imageshack.us/img115/3717/1000051kq0.th.jpg) (http://img115.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1000051kq0.jpg)
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: tillie on August 05, 2007, 09:09:39 am
What a lot of hives, RDY-B, but I don't see a single bee!  Amazing to have a picture of that many hives with no bee washboarding anywhere, at least that I can see.

Linda T in Atlanta
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: pdmattox on August 05, 2007, 10:25:22 am
Nice looking set up. What is being planted in the field? thanks for sharing. :)
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: rdy-b on August 05, 2007, 03:14:18 pm
HI linda T i will get a picture this evening when they are all bearded up :-D this is my first Digital camera still figuring it out. if i have enough time i will go to yard number two PDmattox the field is where this years crop of oats failed no rain i fell sorry for the guy no profit for him. there is irrigated alfalfa next plot over and other row crops. I will harvest that yard first week of september :) very dry hear in cali glade i was able to get pics to post more to come :-D RDY-B
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: rdy-b on August 05, 2007, 11:41:11 pm
yard #2   (http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/963/1000065zn7.th.jpg) (http://img238.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1000065zn7.jpg)                                                (http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/8014/1000066na8.th.jpg) (http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1000066na8.jpg)                                   (http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/5661/1000058sf0.th.jpg) (http://img77.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1000058sf0.jpg)                       (http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/7436/1000069jf6.th.jpg) (http://img77.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1000069jf6.jpg)                  (http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/8878/1000070sa2.th.jpg) (http://img227.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1000070sa2.jpg)
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Cindi on August 06, 2007, 10:43:42 am
RDY-B, hey looks like you have mastered the digital camera, thanks for taking us into this part of your world.  Too bad about the oats and lack of rain, mother nature doesn't treat us very well some times, I feel sorry too.  Have a wonderful day, great life.  Cindi
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: annette on August 06, 2007, 01:39:38 pm
My one little hive:

(http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/3917/img1208wk8.th.jpg) (http://img243.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img1208wk8.jpg)

Forgot to mention I can relate to your one hive. I had only one hive last year until I split this year. How is it doing????

Annette
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: rdy-b on August 06, 2007, 09:44:56 pm
I think that is great I will beat that the orange tree in the back ground will double its yield with those bees not to be picky but i thought placervile was all red dirt keep the pics coming we dont want California bee keepers to lose out on the fun that comes with taking pics ;) RDY-B
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: annette on August 06, 2007, 10:04:20 pm
Oops, sorry RDY-b,

That photo was from DayValleyDahlias. I only quoted her and placed her hive on the post. It is not my hive.

You are correct that Placerville is red dirt and also hot. Orange trees cannot grow here as it gets to cold in winter.

I am still waiting for my digital camera to arrive in the mail. I have been waiting for 2 weeks now. I ordered a camera from sony.com and all that arrived was an empty carton. Apparently the camera had been stolen and so had to re order it again, while fighting with them to prove the camera never arrived. It has been a nightmare with Sony.

Anyway, soon as the camera arrives, I will get down to business and post some photos of my hives. Thanks for your enthusiasm regarding the photos.

Annette
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: rdy-b on September 05, 2007, 02:09:45 am
one month later I think the bees are waking up know 8-) harvesting this yard now very hot today ;)  RDY-B           (http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/8638/1000114me8.th.jpg) (http://img510.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1000114me8.jpg)                                                                                               (http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/9210/1000111yr6.th.jpg) (http://img504.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1000111yr6.jpg)                                                                                                 (http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/9075/1000120wy4.th.jpg) (http://img510.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1000120wy4.jpg)                                                                                                        (http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/2223/1000125yb7.th.jpg) (http://img510.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1000125yb7.jpg)                                   
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Cindi on September 06, 2007, 11:12:40 am
RDY-B.  Some nice pics you got there, some pretty big bearding too.  Thanks.  Have a wonderful day, beautiful life.  Cindi
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: rdy-b on September 06, 2007, 01:46:11 pm
IT is not bearding it is from the fume boards  ;)I have ben pulling honey and spining it for five days in a row this is my last day I am finishing the second yard my yield is low but better than i thought  :-D it is so dry honey is gummy next year i will get a helper  :lol:  READY-BEE
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: pdmattox on September 06, 2007, 06:05:40 pm
good looking pics rdy-b, what kind of honey are you pulling?
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: rdy-b on September 07, 2007, 03:01:32 am
around here we dont have the luxury of predominate flows many small flows so it is multi floral starts with the fruit bloom and alfalfa fields next location could be blackberry and anise and thistle  best to sell based on location people love to get honey close to them i dont mix the locations so i give them more than one choice  some spots give a few buckets some give twenty buckets  it is a lot of running around but provides a good table at the market on saturdays there has been a nectar drought here but i still made 3000lbs which is just enough. next year very well could be double that  :-\ we will see thank-you for your interest   8-) RDY-B
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: abejaruco on September 15, 2007, 07:48:35 pm
I have moved any of my hives under my avocado tree. Shade is shelter.

(http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/6981/dsc09627fq0.th.jpg) (http://img62.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc09627fq0.jpg)
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Dr/B on September 15, 2007, 11:19:16 pm
http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php?topic=11242.0




 :-D
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Michael Bush on September 16, 2007, 12:27:43 pm
http://www.bushfarms.com/images/Stand1.jpg
http://www.bushfarms.com/images/Stand2.jpg

Here's one of my outyards.
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Cindi on September 16, 2007, 12:33:30 pm
abejaruco, what a pretty little picture, very nice.  Wonderful day and best of life.  Cindi
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Cindi on September 16, 2007, 12:35:49 pm
Dr/B.  Nice picture, but the only one that I could see was the one of you and your children against the massive beautiful sunflowers, but what a sight!!!  Have a wonderful day, beautiful of life.  Cindi
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Cindi on September 16, 2007, 12:38:21 pm
Michael, nice pics.  I like the look of the different coloured boxes, it kind of gives a warm and fuzzy feeling of comfort, don't know why, but the pictures feel good.  Have a wonderful day, best of our beautiful life we're livin'.  Cindi
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Cindi on September 16, 2007, 01:03:58 pm
I have a more current closer up picture of my apiary, it was taken the end of July, looks slightly a bit different now again.  In the picture I had just mowed the grass, but hadn't yet got around to pulling out the grass infront and beside the colonies, looks much more tidy now.  Have a wonderful day and a beautiful life.  Cindi

(http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/3818/apiaryjly30800x600640x4cn4.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: annette on September 16, 2007, 01:12:30 pm
I  just loved seeing these photos of your bee yard. What are those blue designs painted on the bottom of the supers??

Yes, very tidy and neat.

I will have to post some more photos of mine soon. I do want to post the new upper entrance I just made recently. (well notches really - but the bees seem very happy with them)

Wonderful day to you Cindi and once again thank you for all the great expertise and positive replies to everyone.

Sincerely,
Annette in now absolutely perfect Placerville California - weather now in the mid 70's - low 80's
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: abejaruco on September 16, 2007, 05:45:45 pm
Dr/B, with two or three sunflowers surely your bees can harvest any tons of nectar.
Brings at my mind Gulliver and the giants, Lilliput and other tales.... :)
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Dr/B on September 16, 2007, 08:43:39 pm
Dr/B, with two or three sunflowers surely your bees can harvest any tons of nectar.
Brings at my mind Gulliver and the giants, Lilliput and other tales.... :)

I planted about 250 sunflowers in my vegetable garden.   :-D   All varieties of sunflowers from large plate size heads to multiple smaller blooming type.  We also have dozens of crape myrtles here too they seem to love.  Anyone know if they get much use from the crape myrtles, or not?  It won't be long and golden rod season starts.  This past summer we had literally thousands of privet hedge blooming around here.  Acres and acres of this hedge, white as far as you could see.  Very pretty and smelled wonderful.  The bees covered it up.

Dr/B
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Cindi on October 19, 2007, 12:29:12 am
Richard, beautiful pic, your bees will do well there.  Looks like it may be a southern exposure with some nice shade from that lovely ol' tree.  It is so much fun to set up a place for the girls to have a lovely home.  Good for you, yeah!!!!  Have a wonderful day, best of this beautiful life.  Cindi
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Carriage House Farm on October 19, 2007, 10:16:36 pm
Woops, wrong picture.  Great, the first pic I post and its the wrong one.  That is the expansion of my experimental garden where I plant stuff to see ho they taste or plant things I have never grown before, to get a feel for them before I do it on a scale to sell.

It used to be THE garden, now its just the mad scientist lab.

It is right above the bee year and the orchard though so its close, sort of.
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Cindi on October 20, 2007, 11:50:28 am
Richard, hey I think that is cool that you do a veggie "test" before you set the produce to the market.  Yeah!!!!  I have experimented with many different cultivars of food plants too over my past 30 years in small time food production for my family.  I love to experiment with different corns, my preference will always be the sh2 (super sweets), can't beat them for the longevity of the sugar content after harvesting and the kernal row count, yeah!!!  Have fun with your food experimenting.  Have a wonderful and beautiful life in our great world.  Cindi
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Carriage House Farm on October 22, 2007, 06:59:17 pm
Well, here is the new Bee Yard, sans Bees.  Those come next year, but I wanted to make sure it was built before this year was over so I could write off some of the costs (not that there was much since other than some of the bolts this was all material left over from other projects (which dictated the size).

All that's left is to level out the front a bit (the raised gravel bed is actually the back...and faces north) and put down a layer of pea gravel on top to dress it off.

It'll fit six hives I think, more if they are on top of each other (that is going to be another question I am going to ask in another thread...drift.).

Anyways, enjoy:

(http://gallery.mac.com/thesw0rdofroland/100046/IMG_0708/web.jpg)
(http://gallery.mac.com/thesw0rdofroland/100046/IMG_0799/web.jpg)
(http://gallery.mac.com/thesw0rdofroland/100046/IMG_0828/web.jpg)
(http://gallery.mac.com/thesw0rdofroland/100046/IMG_0826/web.jpg)
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Michael Bush on October 22, 2007, 08:43:31 pm
You guys do know that a booming hive during a flow could be ten boxes tall right?
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: pdmattox on October 22, 2007, 09:00:07 pm
hopefully they will be changeing out supers before they get that tall. Man That layout looks good and I can see you did a lot of work.
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Carriage House Farm on October 22, 2007, 09:19:45 pm
You guys do know that a booming hive during a flow could be ten boxes tall right?

Yep.

When its finished it'll be about 12" off the ground.  It can hold well a whole lot of weight (I even put in concrete footers left over from another job.  Keeps 'em off the ground from moisture and snow and will give me some room if I need to set up something for skunks.

The gravel area is the back.  I plan to off load supers onto the back of the Mule so I figure having it step down would place me at the right level to stack onto the back bed.

I could be wrong.  I'll change it if I am.  I think I have everything measured correctly.
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Cindi on October 22, 2007, 11:31:00 pm
Richard, wow!!!!  You have one nice set up going on and the hard work you have done shines through.  I didn't see a mule anywhere.   Oh well, animals can pack a whole lotta weight,eh?!!!  Heeee, heee.  Excellent that you posted the right picture this time  ;) :) 

I love to see pictures our friends put on the forum, bring em' on guys!!!!  Have a wonderful and beautiful day in our greatest of life.  Cindi
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Brian D. Bray on October 22, 2007, 11:56:34 pm
WOW!! that's impressive, it sure beats setting my hives on old railroad ties.  Your project looks like you either have too much time on your hands, have a tendency to be a perfectionist, or both.  I wish I had the time and energy to build hive stands like that.  For this old reprobate that would have been a week long project.  I'm disabled and I did a major job today--I built a full 8 foot section of fence for the new goat pasture.  If I can do that an 8 foot section of fence every day it doesn't rain I should have the new pasture done by Christmas.  It tooke me all summer to build a 8X14 foot pigeon loft--I still need to build more roosts and nest boxes but I've got to get the goat pasture enlarged.
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: qa33010 on October 23, 2007, 12:03:21 am
   Brian!  Sounds good and a lot like me!!!  Still feels even better when I finish something now-a-days. ;)
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Cindi on October 23, 2007, 12:12:15 am
Brian, excellent!!!  Look at the gumption you've got.....that is alot of work to build fences, and you are accomplishing this.  So what if it takes you until Christmas?  All good things take time.  This is something that I have learned, over and over and over  :) ;) :(  Have a wonderful day, best of this life.  Cindi
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: SteveSC on October 25, 2007, 03:01:32 pm
Brian..  If I didn't live 2400+\- miles away I'd be over there to help with that fence - you can bet on that.  You give us all great advice and we appreciate it.  I bet you're the toughest ole' goat on the property.

Who lives near Brian...?   
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: sean on December 17, 2007, 04:40:31 pm
here are some of mine


(http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/5600/image306iq4.th.jpg) (http://img46.imageshack.us/my.php?image=image306iq4.jpg)

Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: pdmattox on December 17, 2007, 05:36:30 pm
Nice looking yard. Do you have problems with robbing?  I notice you have different sized colonies, Are the bigger ones full of honey?
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: sean on December 17, 2007, 06:10:51 pm
yep, actually most of the hives have honey, i should be extracting(about 15 boxes) this weekend. I have no real problem with robbing, most of the smaller hives have entrance reducers(pieces of wood/mesh) on them.
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: DennisB on December 17, 2007, 09:06:15 pm
That's a great looking outfit. Do the bees ever have any down time in the Caribean or just go all year long?

DennisB
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: annette on December 18, 2007, 01:48:36 am

My two darling beehives.
Annette from Placerville California


(http://i9.tinypic.com/7wkc11t.jpg)

Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: sean on December 18, 2007, 09:05:16 am
That's a great looking outfit. Do the bees ever have any down time in the Caribean or just go all year long?

DennisB


based on the variety of flora and fauna food is available all year round. that being said rainfall is what really determines how often you can get honey. Season generally runs from about jan-feb to june-july. I am lucky in that i can basically get honey year round. My last extraction(of 4) was july and if it weren't for the hurricane in august and continuous rain in october i could have done another one. but we genrally tend to use july -oct to treat, do repairs, major spltting etc and start building up for jan. 
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Cindi on December 18, 2007, 09:14:35 am
Sean, nice looking set up, so is yours too Annette.  I love to see the pictures of how my forum friends set up their colonies, it is just plain and simply, a beautiful sight for the eyes, yea!!!  Have a great and wonderful day, Cindi
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: DennisB on December 18, 2007, 09:46:53 am
Nice set up Annette. I see you have your chair set behind to pull out and relax watching your friends!

DennisB
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: annette on December 18, 2007, 06:58:57 pm
That is correct. I do spend a lot of time watching them, and this is how I have learned so much about them. It is never wasted time.

Annette
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: SgtMaj on July 10, 2008, 04:32:02 am
Here is my "portable" beeyard :-D

(http://robo.hydroville.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=314&g2_serialNumber=1)

Trailer park...  :-D

PS - the very very top with the round holes in it... what is that?
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: annette on July 10, 2008, 02:06:57 pm
He has those same top covers as I do. Mine are from Honey Run Apiaries, but perhaps he got his somewhere else.
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Robo on July 10, 2008, 03:00:45 pm

PS - the very very top with the round holes in it... what is that?

They are vent boxes,  similar to the ones on the DE hives,  except I use a different inner cover configuration.
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: beekeeperookie on July 14, 2008, 05:16:24 pm
(http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/5875/picture401ni0.th.jpg) (http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=picture401ni0.jpg)



This is my beeyard, I sold all my hives currently moving, but i will start again.
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: buzzbee on December 07, 2009, 08:25:07 pm
Hey,
Anyone interested in posting more current pics of the beeyards? Any takers from the Aussies? The people that live in urban areas? Thanks everyone!!!
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: wfuavenger on December 09, 2009, 07:22:54 pm
anyone got some recent pics? I will have some come spring as I am getting into this then, but for now I want to check out what everyone else has done.
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: HAB on December 09, 2009, 07:50:36 pm
Here she is.
Double click to see larger view.



(http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/9214/copyofp1030177.th.jpg) (http://img248.imageshack.us/i/copyofp1030177.jpg/)(http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/148/p1040220z.th.jpg) (http://img42.imageshack.us/i/p1040220z.jpg/)
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: John Lee Pettimore on December 09, 2009, 09:36:18 pm


On the pic on the right, the closest hive: what's on the front of the bottom super, just above the entrance?
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: HAB on December 09, 2009, 09:47:28 pm


On the pic on the right, the closest hive: what's on the front of the bottom super, just above the entrance?

Robbing Screen.  The pic was taken in September and we had some robbing.  Put robbing screens on all but three hives.  Stops it cold.
Here is picture of one and a link to where I get them. Click the pic for a larger view.
www.brushymountainbeefarm.com/Moving-and-Robbing-Screen/productinfo/517/ (http://www.brushymountainbeefarm.com/Moving-and-Robbing-Screen/productinfo/517/)
(http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/8062/517movingrobbingscreen.th.jpg) (http://img46.imageshack.us/i/517movingrobbingscreen.jpg/)
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Natalie on December 10, 2009, 12:44:48 am
I can't figure out how to do individual pictures but if you follow the link to photo bucket you can find my hives on a couple of the pages.

http://s679.photobucket.com/albums/vv153/natalierosepeterson/?start=340 (http://s679.photobucket.com/albums/vv153/natalierosepeterson/?start=340)
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: wfuavenger on December 10, 2009, 11:38:56 am
Those are some great pics natalie! I was hoping to see some beeyards like that. You have done a great job placing flowers and herbs. It looks fantastic.
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: HAB on December 10, 2009, 12:11:04 pm
I can't figure out how to do individual pictures but if you follow the link to photo bucket you can find my hives on a couple of the pages.

http://s679.photobucket.com/albums/vv153/natalierosepeterson/?start=340 (http://s679.photobucket.com/albums/vv153/natalierosepeterson/?start=340)

Natalie, to post your pics=
To post a thumbnail of your pics.
In PhotoBucket Click on the picture you wish to share.
Left and below the picture is a list of options for the picture.
IMG CODE is what you want.
In the box to the right of IMG DATA Click AND copy the data.
Then paste that data in your "post reply" box on Beemaster.  
It will look like this when you "preview" your post.


(http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/vv153/natalierosepeterson/Picture255.jpg)(http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/vv153/natalierosepeterson/Picture470.jpg)
(http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/vv153/natalierosepeterson/Picture464.jpg)(http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/vv153/natalierosepeterson/Picture585.jpg)(http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/vv153/natalierosepeterson/Picture582.jpg)

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The above pics are of Natalie"s BeeYard.  
Very Nice Indeed.  She has several more beautiful pics at the link she posted.  Well worth a look.
HAB
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Natalie on December 10, 2009, 01:20:44 pm
Thanks so much Hab! I wondered how everyone else was doing it.
Thank you both for the compliments, I can see my hives from several windows in my house and I really enjoy watching the bees come and go.
I planted the herbs new last year and they took right off, they really filled in nicely by the end of the season.
 I am looking forward to seeing how well they do this year after they are more established.
I found all those rocks in the border on our property and figured I could put them to use.
I keep a couple of hives in the vegetable garden as well and I can watch the bees come and go while I work in the garden.
Thanks again.
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Shawn on December 10, 2009, 08:17:10 pm
WOW! What a setup  :shock:
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: TwT on December 10, 2009, 09:28:42 pm
Natalie, that has to be one of the prettiest bee yards if not the prettiest I have ever seen, you have a ton of work in that yard plus the very nice paint job on the hives.
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Natalie on December 10, 2009, 09:32:27 pm
That is very sweet of you, thank you. :)
 It really was a labor of love and I enjoyed every minute of it, well maybe not trying to level that whole area while the sky opened up and it was pouring rain, :-D but the rest of it was fun.
It a nice place to hang out and watch the bees.
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: contactme_11 on December 11, 2009, 03:38:02 pm
Rob,
How many hive's do you have total?
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Cindi on December 11, 2009, 10:53:45 pm
HAB, nice set up, is the tarp to keep down the grass?  Looks really good. Have that beautiful day, with health.  Cindi
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Cindi on December 11, 2009, 10:58:43 pm
I can't figure out how to do individual pictures but if you follow the link to photo bucket you can find my hives on a couple of the pages.

http://s679.photobucket.com/albums/vv153/natalierosepeterson/?start=340 (http://s679.photobucket.com/albums/vv153/natalierosepeterson/?start=340)

Natalie, if you want to upload a single picture from photobucket here, do this.  Go to photobucket (minimize the forum window, you can toggle between the two tabs, meaning photobucket and our forum) and click on the picture you want to upload to here.  You will see three little window things come up below the picture, these are the url links.  Click on the last one and right click, chose copy and then go back to our forum.  Just right click again in your post and push paste.  That will give the URL link to that picture in photobucket.  It is extremely easy to use.  Whenever I upload pictures to photobucket that I think I may use in our forum, I always firstly resize that image to below 100 kb, that way it doesn't take too much time to upload to photobucket and is internet friendly to bring into here too.  I wonder if this helps you out, will you please let me know.  I think that I have clearly defined how to do it, if you need another question answered, try to ask me, I may be able to help.  Have that beautiful and wonderful day, health.  Cindi
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: David LaFerney on December 14, 2009, 10:59:03 am
Wow Natalie, that's beautiful.  You seem to have every type of hive known to man.
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Natalie on December 14, 2009, 01:12:29 pm
Thanks David, I like to experiment a little.
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: HAB on December 14, 2009, 02:31:12 pm
HAB, nice set up, is the tarp to keep down the grass?  Looks really good. Have that beautiful day, with health.  Cindi


Yep, Never have to worry about grass giving the ants a short-cut to the hives. 
Bought a tractor trailer load of outdoor furniture fabric at an auction last year.  The stuff is practically indestructible.  Simi-waterproof, strong as all get out and lasts for years.  Been making, equipment tarps, hay covers, green house shades, and you name it for months and barely put a dent in the load.  Sold 40 rolls to an upholstery shop and quadrupled my money back and I've still got about 100 rolls left.  One of the best purchases I've made in a long time. :bee: :bee: :bee:
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: GaryMinckler on January 14, 2010, 11:00:16 pm
That is the most awesome beeyard I've seen!!  I would love to hang out there and watch bees. Incredible!!  Thanks for showing.
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Natalie on January 14, 2010, 11:15:55 pm
Really? I am always suprised when I get compliments on my yard.
 Everyone has been so nice about it and its great to hear after putting so much work into it so I thank you.
Well you can come on over any time and watch bees with me. :)
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: GaryMinckler on January 14, 2010, 11:31:44 pm
Thanks Natalie...looking forward to more pictures in the future.
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: Jahjude on March 30, 2010, 08:28:02 pm
Here's my contribution,nothing much as yet but definately plan to make expansion my main priority for now.
The concrete base here can accommodate approx 20hives


(http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/8963/apiaryviewe.th.jpg) (http://img715.imageshack.us/i/apiaryviewe.jpg/)
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: woodchopper on January 01, 2011, 08:56:07 pm
Here's a couple older pictures of our hives up in Maine. We had four hives there last year and will have eight in 2011. The electric fence saved our hives from bears two years ago and one of our neighbors on the other side of town wasn't so lucky. He lost eight of his twelve hives.
 This year we'll have four green ten frame hives and four gray eight frame hives at this location.
(http://annzoid.com/images/forums/bees/Maine.jpg)

(http://annzoid.com/images/forums/bees/Maine2.jpg)
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: AllenF on January 01, 2011, 09:17:24 pm
Good looking wood pile.    Hives look good also.  :-D
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: woodchopper on January 01, 2011, 09:41:09 pm
Thanks AllenF. I have some more recent pictures somewhere that show my electric fence charger, log splitter , and all seven hives we had before three of them starved. Those more recent pictures give you a much better feel for the backyard with the garden in the background. . ;) Lord knows where the picture are so I posted these two while my wife {Reinbeau} was around to help me.
 I wish others would post pictures of their yards because this is a VERY interesting thread. I love seeing the great ideas and creativeness of others.
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: mudlakee on January 02, 2011, 03:59:51 pm
Is that John Deere Green?  Tony
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: woodchopper on January 02, 2011, 04:28:59 pm
Is that John Deere Green?  Tony
It started out as Asparagus Green or something like that and when we built our chicken coop we mixed a couple gallon cans with a 5 gallon bucket and the color you see is what we ended up with.
 You can see the chicken coop and where some of our hives are here in MA. here: http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=45491&p=4 (http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=45491&p=4)
 We extended the stand where the four hives you see in the pictures to hold seven. Next year we'll have six hives on that stand and two to four on a stand about 10' in front of that one. We'll have between 15-18 hives on the ground depending on how many we lose over the winter.
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: kbfarms on January 22, 2011, 09:47:55 pm
Here is our home bee yard.  It was our nine year old daughter's art project last winter ;).

(http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk253/kbfarms_photos/joe_iphone_033-1.jpg)
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: AllenF on January 23, 2011, 12:12:13 am
Very colorful hives there.   Can't wait to bee hives with your logo cut into the fronts.   ;)
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: annette on January 24, 2011, 02:16:00 am
KB Farms I am so impressed with your bee yard. You should have turned this photo into the Bee culture calendar contest. I am sure it would have ended up in the calendar.

Thanks for sharing.

Annette
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: meade kampe on February 21, 2011, 08:41:07 pm
Which direction is the best way to face a hive?  I currently have a 3 hive beeyard and they both face South.  I'd like to set up a 3rd hive closer to my house for observation.....and I want to make sure I have it orientated correctly.  Thanks!
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: T Beek on February 24, 2011, 08:35:06 am
Kind of a funny place to ask that Q meade kampe, but it sounds like you're already facing them fine.  However,.........
?You have a 3 hive beeyard and they 'both' face South??? confused me a bit :-\

Most beeks say facing the entrance South to Southeast is best, but I'm not convinced of any particular direction, except; Out of prevailing winds in YOUR area,,,,,,, but I came here for hints on how to post pics of my bee yard, so now you owe us ;) a picture, that is :-D.

thomas
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: woodchopper on March 24, 2011, 09:38:50 pm
 I hope this thread gets new life once everybody gets their new nucs and packages this year. Sure is an interesting thread. Come on beeks let's see those photos !!! :-D :-D
Title: Re: Bee yard photos and lay out
Post by: ronwhite3030 on March 30, 2011, 11:42:39 pm
Here is My yard so far this year.


(http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x424/ronwhite3030/IMG_0028.jpg)


(http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x424/ronwhite3030/IMG_0026.jpg)


the mini nucs and nuc are hives I started last week, my full hive is the one I purchased in August.