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Propagating Pollinator Plants

This year I *really* noticed the Western Soapberry trees in the North Texas (North of Dallas / Ft Worth MetroMess) area during their bloom, and the pollinators all over the trees while in bloom. I suspect this was a 2nd bloom for the year. My time really noticing them was from the end of May […]

Big Fix for Cheap NUC Boxes

For the last 2 years, one of the NUC / Bee suppliers has been using CHEAP NUC boxes. They resemble the higher quality Jester EZ Nuc Boxes – however – there’s a huge difference that’s not necessarily noticed until it gets HOT outside.

I was making splits, and had a umber of these boxes – […]

Earth Day 2025 – Rooster Home and Hardware

The Harmony Hollow Apiary bees in an observation hive will be at Rooster Home and Hardware on Saturday April 19th in their celebration of Earth Day 2025. Come sample honey, see the bees, and maybe spot the queen!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Effects of sublethal doses of glyphosate on honeybee navigation

I thought I had posted this link to research – however I’m not finding it at the moment – so I will post it again – in light of this winters’ reported massive honeybee losses by commercial beekeepers. (as noted in my last post). While the symptoms and possible causes are being investigated – I […]

Urgent: Nationwide Bee Losses in Winter of 2024-2025

2-7-2025 10pm

If you have not heard – over the last month – as many beekeepers prepare to send bees to California for Almond pollination – it’s being found that the normal approximate annual attrition rate of honeybee colonies of 40% – is this year – being seen in the range of 50%-80% and in […]

Pollinator Plants for Texas

Many property owners ask me about what to plant to help feed the bees. The short answer – is to plant for ALL the pollinators (butterflies, moths, wasps, bees (including native species as well as the honeybees used in agriculture for pollination services and honey production).

Though I separate this list […]

ATREE and Beekeeping in India – West Bengal – Darjeeling Region

This is a work in progress as I have time to update from my recollection and notes from my trip to India for the month of October and early November 2016. Some photos are by freelance photographer Saad Amer – and are credited to him on each one. The remainder were taken by myself.

Ashoka […]

Rainfall and the Effects on Nectar

In North Texas – the 2024 spring season gave me a false hope of being a good honey production year. The first weeks in March provided the beginning of a decent nectar flow from the plants that were in bloom leading up to that week. Several hives proved to me that nectar was being brought […]

Central Texas Bee School – Brenham Tx – 3/2/2024

If you’re available to attend the Central Texas Bee School on March 2, 2024, it’s a great place and opportunity to learn more about bees and their management.

 

Rex Smith will be teaching (2) sessions – on performing hive inspections at the bee school.

Sign up ASAP to reserve your space.

https://centraltexasbeekeepers.org/bee-school/

 

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Easy to build bench

A friend was needing a spot for guests to sit and remove / put back on shoes before entering her home and leaving the home.

This is a very simple design, made with a scrap 2×8 – cut in half, and scrap 2×4’s cut to the shape of a box – to form the legs. […]