The gentleman whose hive was weed covered and had never been opened since
installation in the spring --  He bought his bees from a beekeeper who
keeps his bees in gums.  The gums are about 3 feet high.  He never removes
the bees from the gums, just adds supers to the top for honey.  Recall that
the bees were mean and very healthy.
 
Judy in Ky, USA