I got this hive from Blue Ridge Honey, a package with a Carniolan queen.  This hive swarmed in May.  Now it has a new queen mated with a local drone.  I named it the "pi" hive after the irrational number pi because the area of the entrance hole is pi inches!  This is the strongest hive.  Most impressive beard, I cannot recall seeing any more massive than this one.

The other hive is one of two nucs I received about a month ago.  I don't know the precise definition of "nuc" but basically a mini hive, usually created from a larger hive, that is being split.  This hive weighs 19 pounds, of which 9 pounds is biomass.  The pi hive weighs 54 pounds.  So anywhere from 44 to 49 pounds of biomass.

I love echinaceas and I love bumble bees.  There several different kinds of pollinators on the echinaceas today.  Bumble bees, honey bees, smaller bee-like creatures, and moths.
I find bumble bees to be really cute, with their furry bodies and industrious work ethic.

We planted many radishes this year.  I've been trying to figure out how to pickle without vinegar and finally found a basic recipe, salt in the quantity of 1-2% of the weight of whatever vegetable you are trying to pickle.  I started these pickles around June the 15th and checked them today.  They are definitely on the right track but could probably use some more time.

This is an closeup of some Lion's Mane that Sharon has been growing.  Looking good!

I never noticed these until I started keeping honey bees.  Maple trees blooms are an important late winter nectar and pollen source for honey bees.

Right now this appears to be the strongest of the hives.  The bearding is extensive.  The bees are covering the entrance holes with their bodies, leaving only a small channel formed by their own bodies.  I cannot imagine anything that could get past these ladies!!!