Apparently many BEE-L members do leave the mesh floors on over winter and also leave them open to the elements. I wonder how many also use top entrances as well, or if many find the ventilation from below adequate. I also wonder how many use the large surface area type described on Barry's site and how many use a smaller mesh area as described here by a Norwegian member several years back. As I recall, he used no upper entrance and had good wintering success. > > I do leave the mesh bottoms on and open during the winter and the do fine. My colonies ... are about 8 inches above the ground with plenty of room for air circulation under the hives. allen http://www.internode.net/HoneyBee/Diary/