My hive grew a beard.

For the past few weeks, my bees have been hanging out on the exterior of the hive and the landing board. I was afraid this meant they were preparing to swarm, but actually, they are doing something called "bearding."

Bearding is a phenomenon that happens during warm, humid weather — usually in the mid-to-late summer (swarming is most likely to occur in the spring). The bees are just plain hot and some of them go outside the hive in order to give added ventilation to the house bees and brood nest inside. When they cluster on the exterior this way, it gives the hive the appearance of having a beard.

Honey bees are so smart.