This is my bee hive

 

Now this isn't your traditional bee hive but it is mine. For the last 15 years, we've had bees living in the shed next door. Some years they have a very active swarm, some years not. This year they started off slow, disappeared, then a new group moved in and the swarm has slowly grown. They don't have enough space to all fit in so I see tons on the outside of the shed.

The odd bit about this year's swarm is that it doesn't clump together on the boards closest to the hole they go in. Usually they are really close and you can't see the boards at all.

They were removed once from the shed but they came back. When the bee lady came to remove them it was very fascinating to watch. She pulled the wood siding off, broke off the honeycomb, put it in plastic tubs and also vacuumed up/collected all the bees as she went along.

I enjoy having them and as long as I don't aggravate them everything works out. Luckily the shed is in the back corner of the yard so it is easy to avoid.