One of my hives overdid it with the bridge comb (comb built beneath/between the frames.) It prevents inspections so I had to remove it and set it aside for them to remove the honey and pollen. Will clean and melt it down later. The amount I removed will probably make six candles.

Winter Kill

Took advantage of the warmer climes to open up the hives. Found one empty and the other dead, clustered about the top, many bees inserting themselves into the comb, frames of honey just one over. Sad, but I think I know what happened: bees tend to be more active in warmer temperatures. The queen had likely taken advantage of the 40 degree temperatures last month (when I know they were alive) to start laying brood. The hive got more active, and as a result ran out of honey. Bees for the most part will travel straight up rather than from side to side, which is likely how they died off.

Will keep a better eye next year (have already put in two orders of MN Hygienic bees,) and crack the hives open to rearrange the frames if the temperatures permit. A sad, and costly, mistake on my part.