“Pretty Bee Hives” are unique, custom painted and decorated genuine pine wood bee hives that I purchase from a reputable bee supply merchant. They are already assembled when I get them, but they have not been painted. I paint them with TWO coats of non-toxic low/no VOC exterior latex paint to protect them from the elements. Typically these base coats are yellow, white or very light blue. Customization IS an option - I can put phrases or names on here, or special occasions like "Happy Birthday" or "Sami's Bees" (or any name) - for example "Congratulations!" or "Happy Anniversary!" - I particularly like "The hum of bees is the voice of the garden" - a quote by Elizabeth Lawrence. I even put grafitti on some hives! I have one that people love "I never used to be able to finish anything but now I " is one example - you tell me what you want and I will try to make it happen.
The actual designs are each UNIQUE – one of a kind – no two beehives are alike. The only commonality is that they include a deep (brood chamber) and a medium (honey super) for LANGSTROTH HIVES and the designs are designed to fit one way and one way only i.e. the honey super is designed to fit perfectly on top of the brood chamber – all the paint patterns and designs line up perfectly, like a jigsaw puzzle, there’s only ONE way to place the super on top of the deep. Why? Well, as we beekeepers know, sometimes when inspecting our hives or harvesting honey from our supers, we lift the supers off and sometimes have to place them on the ground or on 4×4’s while we inspect. IT CAN sometimes be confusing to remember which way you took that super off, and it’s important to put it back exactly the same way – so that it is facing the same way they were when you originally took it off. By design, if you look at the super, you can tell immediately which orientation it belongs, so you cannot make a mistake and put the front of the honey super at the back, i.e. the wrong way around. Hopefully that makes sense!
Not only do Pretty Beehives look stunning in your apiary or garden, but it’s art your bees will live in AND it helps them when orienting to their hives – they’re more easily able to commit to memory unique and distinctive designs. Imagine a row of plain white hives – much harder for them to find their way home than if their is bright and unique with amazing patterns or designs. We’re all about helping the bees, and helping them find their way home. There are several collections to choose from: Nature/Garden, Ocean, Modern, Mandala, Sunburst, The Kenny, and I even have a "Modern" Nuc - some have decals (like Nature/Garden and Ocean), but all the others are hand decorated.
What's included: deep (brood) box and medium (honey super) - NO FRAMES OR OTHER HIVE COMPONENTS INCLUDED.
zelle payment preferred, otherwise cash payment accepted upon pickup of beehive. NO BEES INCLUDED.