Freed from the confines of a beekeeper's square frame and artificial wax foundation, bees naturally build combs in U-shaped panels.
Honey bees ripen nectar during the spring honey flow.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
A beautiful frame of ripe, capped honey ready for harvest.
Nectar ripens into honey in open, uncapped cells.
Hive bees ripening nectar.
Hive bees ripening nectar.
A bee drinks nectar from an uncapped cell.
When honey is ripe, bees cap the cells with fresh wax.
Nectar ripens in open wax cells in a honey bee nest.
When honey is ripe, bees cap the cells with fresh wax.
When honey is ripe, bees cap the cells with fresh wax.
When honey is ripe, bees cap the cells with fresh wax.
See photo in original gallery.
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013