Between our two hives, we estimate that we currently have somewhere between 75,000 and 105,000 honey bees, with roughly 90,000 bees being a reasonable estimate. The painted hive is our larger and more established colony, likely containing around 45,000–60,000 bees, while the white hive—started from a captured swarm—is probably home to another 30,000–45,000. Both colonies have grown tremendously over the summer, filling two deep brood boxes and expanding into honey supers. On warm, humid days, the size of the colonies becomes especially obvious as thousands of bees gather around the entrances to cool the hives, giving us a remarkable glimpse of just how large these little communities have become.
Helen's Bees Make Honey