total newbee

[NEBeeman]

Just about to start my first season
Nucs waiting for April pick-up
Have tons of questions!!
Have already read Beekeepers handbook and start a class in March.
A couple of concerns regarding sun exposure for the apiary...I have a couple spots in mind, one with more sun exposure than the other.
-how much (or little) sun makes a happy colony?
-how much space around the apiary to avoid disturbances, and getting chased away on the lawnmower?

[Troutsqueezer]

>how much (or little) sun makes a happy colony?

General consenses is full morning sun (gets 'em out flying sooner) and partial afternoon shade. Although full sun all day is fine too.

>how much space around the apiary to avoid disturbances, and getting chased away on the lawnmower?

How many hives?

Some folks mow closely with no problem, others not so much.

Some on here have their apiary on the back deck of thier house. I would think in general the larger the apiary, the more distance you should keep. In a large apiary there could be at any given time, hives that are in a defensive state.

[peggjam]

"Some on here have their apiary on the back deck of thier house. I would think in general the larger the apiary, the more distance you should keep. In a large apiary there could be at any given time, hives that are in a defensive state."

Very true. I can mow the ones in my back yard right up to the entrance, the ones in my outyard, not so much. I still mow the yards, I just wear my suit and carry a smoker:D.