Healthy hives usually want to swarm in the spring. When it occurs, the bees raise several new queens, then just before they hatch, the old queen leaves with (usually) about half the colony. They alight very near the old hive and cluster until they decide where to go. This tree was right next to the parent hive - 10 feet away. It's the hive of the father of a friend of mine. Got this one because she knew I was looking for one.
So interesting. I had no idea that this was how it was done. So, if you are getting a hive of your own, you essentially have to wait until one splits? Great photos Brian, I enjoyed the tour. And CONGRATS on the new gig, look forward to hearing about it.
Another way to start is to buy what is called a "nuc" - a small "nucleus" hive with a few starter frames with brood, some bees, and a queen. Bee queen breeders will sell you queens or nucs (you can split a large hive, add a queen to the queenless half, and you've got two). That's artificial swarming, another way to increase colony numbers.