Sun and shade are really important.
Skeeter has a picture of some hives he managed a long time ago. And I tried to emulate it, but never found out the results.
So anyway .... In the cooler months, the sun REALLY helps! Those
bees need to maintain a certain hive temp, and they either burn up their honey generating heat, or the have big stores of honey for you to eat.
Another helper is to insulate the hives - especially in the cooler months. And to provide some mid-day shade in the hot months.
Most people don't care that much and just put the hives in all day sun and
feed the bees lots of sugar
water. I think that feeding them sugar water is not nearly as good as letting them eat their own honey.
