Newsletter

September 2026

September 2026 Newsletter – Rex Smith & Laura Winters

• In the Field
• Plant Talk
• Upcoming Events

Happy September!

by Laura Winters

Though it still feels excruciatingly hot outside—as if nothing at all has changed—what we are noticing inside the colonies tells a completely different story.

Pollen Prep: We are seeing a significant increase in pollen stores within the cells (essentially baby food!). This is signaling the queen to start laying more eggs to build up our fall and winter populations.

Propolis Sealing: The colonies are gearing up for the cooler months by producing propolis. They use this natural resin to seal up drafts, cracks, and sometimes even shrink their hive entrances down to the size of a pencil hole. As temperatures drop further, we’ll see even more of this activity.

Fresh Wax & New Bees: Younger honeybees are currently building gorgeous, bright white wax. Because a worker bee can only produce wax from her glands during a very specific window of her life, this brand-new comb is being shaped right now for the queen to lay in or to store honey during the upcoming fall flow.

Fall nectar flow, let’s go!

Plant Spotlight 

Thistle

by Laura Winters

We’ve noticed the beautiful thistles are now in full bloom! If you see these anywhere, please try to leave them be, as you’ll witness, it tends to be favored by all different species of bees.

Photo by Rex Smith

Harvest Fest

We are happy to be a part of the 4th Annual Harvest Fest event spotlighting Owenwood Farm and Neighbor Space on Saturday Afternoon – Oct 3, from 1pm – 4pm .

Not only is this a great opportunity to meet your local beekeeper, but being able to purchase the labors of our love. We look forward to meeting you and seeing you again!

• Liquid Honey
• Cardamom Infused Honey
• Creamed Honey (4 varieties!)
• Mexican Buckeye Trees
• Fig Trees
• Dehydrated Herbs:
  Lemon Balm
• Comfrey Salve
• Aloe Plants
• “For the Bees” book
  by Tara Chapman
• Pollinator Seeds

Rex Smith Harmony Hollow Apiary HarmonyHollowBees@gmail.com 469-251-2BEE (2233)

Laura Winters Birds & the Bees Apiary BirdsAndTheBeesApiary@gmail.com 214-729-0726