April 19, 2015…I wonder if I should hang a sign declaring, “Top Bar Log Hive Ready for Immediate Occupancy.”
March 30, 2015…Brian Vorwaller, the wood carver is on the right. We’re both happy the log hive is on site in time for swarm season.
The very beginning of the Log Hive or when I was still calling it The Three Kid Log Hive.
January Progress Report Not being an expert on the chainsaw, I had been worrying about how I would be able to make the vertical cut. I wanted it to be straight. I didn’t want the cut to widen out in places while being narrow in others. I used the weather for an excuse, but eventually I had to face up to the challenge so I could get the log back by April. It worked out well.
Adventures in Natural Beekeeping 
Great roundup video Pat, loved the maypole dancing 🙂 What a great hive, the roof is the icing on the cake, very impressive. Now to find a swarm 🙂
Thanks, Eddy. I was perplexed about what you meant with the ‘maypole dancing’ comment. 🙂 Now I realize it’s me wrapping the rope around the log. First time that anyone has complimented me on my dancing abilities. 🙂
Loved seeing all the work and craftsmanship that goes into one of these. And Zada most have some muscular arms (all the camera-holding)….
Zada was so nice to shoot stills and video of the process. I wanted to include her in photos whenever I could because we all know how much work must be done when your Significant Other is solely dedicated to their art. In my case, it wasn’t ‘art’, but it was printing deadlines. I worked 16 hour days for years, because my wife did everything else. I realize that now as I’m halfway retired and have started helping her out.
Nice, so much attention to natural detail. Wish we all could do this.
Yes, but it’s a fair amount of work. I’m hoping Hal, my log hive mentor will get a swarm soon so I can show people his next project. I took video of it about a month ago with the agreement that I wouldn’t show it until he got a swarm. It’s a ‘log hive’ that is very cheap and relatively easy to build. Hmmm, I better not say anymore for fear of ‘breach of contract.’
Hal got his swarm…so I can mention his log hive now.
https://solarbeez.com/2015/05/25/hal-nails-log-hive-4-patti-shows-us-her-garden/
I talked with him this evening. He’s got the ‘okay’ to build another “Tall Timber Log Hive” for next year. I’m going to build one like his #4 too. It’ll be sooo much easier and I can get creative with it too (if I can get my wife to paint some artwork on it) 🙂
Words fail me on how beautiful that is and a wonderful video compilation really shows the amount of work that has gone into it. Just hope you get a lovely swarm move in and looking forward to seeing that. Thanks for taking the time it’s a real highlight of the season.
Thanks so much for your kind words, Thomas. As a wood craftsman yourself, you know how much work it takes to make something like this. My part of it was the crude hollowing out. I have no creative skills to brag about. I do love shooting photos and videos, but truth be known, I have a difficult time even sketching a cardboard box.
I shot some video of my other two log hives yesterday…it’s a sort of video walk-through speculating which of the other two log hives will swarm first. Both of them have good traffic at the entrance, but recently I have seen drones come out of Bee Beard. I just heard a podcast about the importance of drones. They carry the genetics of the queen mother with the 16 chromosomes they get. Did I get that right? I hope so. Anyway, I’d certainly be okay with a swarm from either of the two other log hives going into the Grand Kid log hive.
Here’s my little log hive walk through…
https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=xv7oHBRYM1E
I’ve so enjoyed following the progress of this hive! Love, love, love it! What a phenomenal job your woodcarver did! Hope you get a swarm in it soon!
Brian Vorwaller is such a talented artist. I am so happy with the results of his work. The sculptures are very close in resemblance to the kids, and they look so animated.
When he was done setting up the hive at my place, he said now Zada wants him to sculpt their two kids on a log.
I enjoyed the video. The progress looks even more astounding when you run it all together like that. What a mammoth task! But what a result! I expect the grandchildren are anxious to see the bees come to live in their hive. Amelia
Not nearly as anxious as I am. This evening I talked with Hal, my log hive mentor who lives inland about 30 miles. His area usually gets swarms earlier than here on the coast, but he has only seen one swarm so far. Some went into his log hive number 4, but he can’t count that as a success until he sees bees bringing in pollen. They might just be robbing the honey he put in as a lure. I told Hal I was keeping my promise not to show his new cheap log hive until he gets a successful swarm in it, but I was itchin’ to show it off, so he better get it going. 🙂
Such a marvelous composition, showing all the prep work, the artistry, the natural science and love that has already gone into this beautiful log hive! I look forward to hearing the bees have taken up residence! Thanks for chronicling this, I have enjoyed it so much!
Thanks, Chakramandalas, it’s been a fun winter time project. Now it’s the waiting time which might prove to be more difficult. Every sunny day, we’re thinking, “Is this the day the swarms are going to start?” Rain tomorrow, then 5-6 days of sun…it’s gotta start then!
Reblogged this on Magical Mandalas and commented:
An inspiring work of art soon to provide a home for bees!
Thanks for the reblog…I hope you’re right about the ‘soon’ part. 🙂
Wow, your new hive really looks great! I hope you and the bees enjoy it for many years to come! 🙂
Welllll…It’s not officially a hive yet. I’ve got to entice a swarm to locate into it. The trouble is, I haven’t had a single swarm yet. By this time last year I had had about 4 or 5 swarms. I’m still waiting…waiting and hoping.
I have complete confidence that sooner or later those bees will come & set up housekeeping!
So much intricate planning and work involved, beautiful results. Surely some bees will want to make it their home soon.
I hope to have news soon. There are bees checking out the three entrances right now. Is it because of the warm sun heating up the little bit of honeycomb and the bees picking up the smell? I don’t know, but we will soon find out.
Ooh, exciting!
False alarm. I think the bees were just smelling the little honeycomb that had warmed up in the sun. I talked to my log hive mentor yesterday evening. Hal said he had bees rob out the frame and a half of honeycomb he put in his #4 log hive. Then 2-3 weeks went by and a big swarm moved in yesterday. I’ll be posting that when I can get his video and offer my congratulations on his hive. It’s interesting because ANYONE CAN MAKE IT! After realizing he wasn’t going to get a suitable log, he built one out of 1 x 12″ lumber.
Thiss was lovely to read