Here’s the thing, y’all: keeping bees alive ain’t easy, and as new beekeepers we just don’t know what we don’t know until we find out later that we didn’t know it. That means we’re going to fail. That means dead-outs for what seems no apparent reason, hive diseases, swarming colonies and parent colonies going feral. … Read More
Interesting article in American Scientist Magazine about bees and insect consciousness. It’s easy to imagine bees have deep inner lives – just look at the decisions they make collaboratively and how they build in the hives! It’s clear that there’s something more going on than just instinct.
Dearth. It means a “scarcity” or “lack” of something. And the Texas summer dearth is a long season with a total lack of nectar-bearing plants for bees and other pollinators. When the temperatures are consistently above 100F, foliage just shrivels up and the land goes dry. And this year has been downright Biblical so far … Read More
These recent years have been a rollercoaster, haven’t they? From running out of toilet paper and dousing groceries in Lysol in early 2020 to deep political divides, climate-related catastrophes, and just far too many Zoom calls, it’s been a bit surreal. But through it all I’ve found solace in the simple act of working my … Read More
AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — The Texas airwaves will be buzzing this January when the all new reality television series, Charlie Bee Company, makes its US broadcast premiere on Austin PBS, KLRU-TV. The (8) hour-long episodes from iniosante studios put viewers in a front row seat working with our planet’s most important pollinator. … Read More
That’s it for Charlie Bee Company in 2021, y’all! We’re coming into the colder months here in Texas and any nuisance hive removals will have to wait until March so the bees can survive the transition from your wall, tree, or water meter to the CharlieBee bee yard. Our hives will be getting into their … Read More
Puns about bees and being “busy” are done to death, but suffice it to say I’m “very busy” with removals these days and scurrying to take care of clients before the close of the season when it becomes impossible to remove and “save” hives through the winter. I usually do removals right up through early … Read More
CENTRAL TEXAS BEEKEEPER SAVES ONE HIVE AT A TIME BY BUILDING NEW HOMES FOR POLLINATORS CLICK HERE to read the article at Statesman.com Claire Osborn / Austin American-Statesman Photos by Mikala Compton Sept. 5, 2021, SAN MARCOS — When Charlie Agar pried open the lid of an abandoned piece of farm machinery in San Marcos … Read More
Made you look! LOL! Quick video of a bee removal in San Marcos. These bees were surprisingly gentle, so I was able to remove my veil and even scoop them up with an ungloved hand. Why would I do this? Choose one: a) I am a grandstander b) I want more followers on social media … Read More
Seems like everyone on social media is getting lots of exposure these days for doing daring things with honeybees without wearing any protective equipment. And while it’s certainly true that a sign of a skilled beekeeper is being able to work bees and read their “mood” and likeliness to sting and then cover up (or … Read More
