Feral Bees in Column

[PLAN-B]

No advice with the bees as i am as green as they come, but as far as the column goes--- The most likely reason for the splitting is due to moisture/ honey etc inside of it. The exterior of this column has been primed and painted to protect against moisture, but the inside will not be protected. The moisture is saturating the wood causing it to expand...Hence the splitting...  ;) Awesome nonetheless

[CaptMorganism]

http://smu.gs/QVWNew
I have posted a few more photos of the column. The wood is not truly splitting, the pieces of wood are opening up where they were joined together.