The first thing we noticed was how this hot weather makes the hives amazingly easy to take apart—all the propolis is softened, so you don't even need a hive tool to get the frames out. Plus, the bees are way too busy working and trying to stay cool to care about you taking their home apart a bit.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkLqche9b88-WKpf2BfjGDbCHn7KPlKKXmQ45hGOq4ATAd3u2lGsPW5Arp9NOIp-ps61fkiFPZNKhZLcf9eADn7_E_n1HPY1uOg1aBbI7z8oy2nKivbZuBgiSV2irDmnusRVLDlDW7ll4/s400/opening-hive-smaller.jpg)
In the first two mature hives we were happy to find pretty much what we expected: lots and lots of brood surrounded by honey, and a few frames of mostly uncapped honey at the top.
In the third mature hive we found way more than we expected: plenty of brood surrounded by honey, and lots more honey to spare! This hive has been exceptionally busy over the last couple of months.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhARMJzpVi5RnlBpb9JuJN77fOFkYKuVat8zlwj8o0H6GBe3eQJ_7yMzPwFioA97FcNykb8_aCsZaSXNYdvq2OAslPRQvBVPYN41oMlwWwrCnopWB5KAt0tCc0ZgaLKI9dBeT0xcbeLjuY/s400/russell-with-frame-smaller.jpg)
We took just a couple of frames, which we'll leave in the comb. It'll be showing up in small pieces on the cheese plate at Bar Covell in Los Feliz starting tonight.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUyhPGJl-Mma9ANazzkO_z9j0bIW9Bo0uley8lTnq7ofiO5pWW2jPCEZK6EL9SQsm716eU6qz-YRqx06Bf0MKIm5I8f5knN-SZruypEmeDRhupJBrgZ1ak82jNM_WhCBmi4LO8KT-lCjU/s400/amy-with-honey-smaller.jpg)