Y’all, I am so excited to tell you that we have bees again! Kent built my Perone hive in the beginning of 2013, which we populated with two packages of small-cell commercial bees. Those bees built a lot of comb, but were unable to build up enough honey stores to make it through the cold weather. Unfortunately, the entire hive died before the end of 2013. We wanted to try again with a prime swarm, but we weren’t able to get one. Then we moved, had a baby, etc. and another year went by – with no bees. Then, this spring, we had lots and lots of scout bees check the place out, but until two days ago, we hadn’t had any takers. I can’t believe we missed seeing a swarm moving in, but I’m still beyond thrilled! I wanted to wait a few days before opening the windows to let them settle in. Today, I opened the windows for the first time and got my first pictures of the new hive. I only had a few minutes so the pics aren’t that great, but you can be sure that there will be more pictures to come! 
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Read all about our beekeeping adventures right HERE.
I’m so happy that you have bees again! I am in Maryland and also have a Perone hive, and 2 other hives that started as a Perone hive…but I cut it in 1/2 to make 2 hives. Interestingly, my full sized Perone hive is the one the survived the winter. I have used it’s splits to fill my other 2 hives. Moral of the story…Perone hives seem to work. But, don’t expect honey in the first, maybe not even in the second year. It just takes a long time for the hive to fill the brood area. Congrats on getting some bees to move in! (As an aside, you may want to order some nematodes from Southern Insectaries to keep small hive beetles at bay. SHB will certainly find your hive esp. since it is in at least partial shade.)
Best Wishes!
Neil
I know the feeling you get when a swarm actually CHOOSES your hive to set up housekeeping. This year we had two swarms pick our new log hive. One was late and couldn’t get in. When you see scouts first checking out your hive, you think it’s going to happen very soon, but actually it can take over a week. My wife and I were ‘tag-teaming’ trying to have one of us outside at all times so we could experience a swarm ‘inbound.’ Eventually it happened…and it was worth it.
Congratulations on getting a swarm to pick out your hive. It will be fun to follow the comb building progress.
Footnote: I’ve got reflection problems too. Try draping a black cloth over your shoulders and shooting downward. I take videos so that approach works sometimes, but I almost think I have to cut out eye holes and drape it over my head…and wear black gloves too so the reflection won’t pick up my hands.