Archives

Texas Legislation to watch – Beekeeping related

This year is a legislative session year in Texas – and several proposed bills would affect the beekeeping industry. I’ll provide a brief synopsis and link to the bill info – and present my opinion as to whether I personally support the bill. Some are in relation to honeybees and beekeeping as related to ag […]

Sept 2022 Newsletter

This year has been so very dry (up until this week) – and natural food availability has been very scarce for the honeybees. You may have noticed that I’ve making rounds more often this summer to make sure they have supplemental feeding with sugar syrup provided directly into the hives, as well as protein supplements […]

Varroa and Mite Management – More important than ever

It is now July of 2022, and Varroa Destructor mites have been detected in Australia. The beekeepers there have long enjoyed their vocation (and hobby) of beekeeping without this pest, which is a known transmission vector for at least 27 destructive viruses.

Varroa Mite

Australia’s Department of Primary Industries current action plan is […]

2024 Honeybee Removal Information

Rex Smith’s Honeybee Removal – 2024

 

*** As of January 2024 – Rex Smith / Harmony Hollow will no longer be performing structural removals of honeybees ***

I am referring people to the following resources for bee removals:

Ft Worth area – Richard Siegrist – BeeRemovalz.com – 214-864-0695

Dallas Area: Ryan Giesecke – Honeybee […]

Second Story Soffit Bee Removal – Dallas

These bees have been in the soffit for a while. The homeowner bought the house recently, and needs to do some work – that the bees were preventing.

After a successful removal – the bees were re-homed to a Harmony Hollow Apiary outyard – and are doing well.

Enjoy!

Winter work – preparing for spring honey flow – Building Frames

Enjoy this quick video of assembling frames for honey production. Foundation will be added to the frames just prior to putting them on the hives (to keep the foundation clean until it’s time for the bees to draw comb).

Enjoy!

Link to my YouTube Channel for you to “like” and Subscribe to my videos: Harmony […]

DIY Protein Patties / DIY Pollen Patties (video in link)

It is early January 2018, and several of the overwintering nucleus colonies (NUC) are needing a protein boost since there has been no blooms for the bees to visit since late fall. Once the queen lays eggs, and the larvae hatch – they need a ready supply of protein for their growth and transformation from […]

I Will Survive – Event in Midland, Texas (Dec 12-13)

Rex Smith – Texas Master Beekeeper will be speaking at 1pm on Saturday Dec 12th in Midland, Texas – at the Midland County Horseshoe Pavilion. This is an event for preppers, homesteaders, and survival enthusiasts.

More information at: I Will Survive Events

I will also have a table for selling my Harmony Hollow Honey, […]

Bee Tree – Trapout Completion follow-up

This honeybee trapout has been completed after about 3.5 weeks.

The queen DID come out, and has joined her workers in the 5-frame box. She is laying worker eggs, and there are worker eggs, larvae, and capped brood as well as a little drone brood. Looks like a good pattern so far – though it […]

Preparing for the 2015 Beekeeping Season

Lots of work is in the planning stages for the 2015 beekeeping season. There are boxes to build, frames to assemble, foundation to install – oh – and did I ever mention a barn to build at Wolfsong Farm? This should give me a secure space to keep my beekeeping woodenware and equipment.

Plans are […]