Otrera's Apiary

Otrera's Apiary Welcome to the official page for Otrera's Apiary - your front row seat to the enchanting world of sustainable beekeeping in Southeast Texas!

Dive into the wonder of Honey Bees with us as we share our unfiltered hive tales and let the bees lead!🐝

Honey bees get a lot of the attention… but they’re not the only ones working hard this month! 🐝✨Native pollinators like ...
08/21/2026

Honey bees get a lot of the attention… but they’re not the only ones working hard this month! 🐝✨
Native pollinators like leafcutter bees, sweat bees, and carpenter bees are still out and about, helping keep our ecosystems healthy. Many of these bees are solitary and nest in small holes or hollow stems.
One easy way to support them is by adding a simple bee house (also called a bee hotel) to your yard. You can buy one or build your own with just a few basic materials.
Here’s a clear DIY guide:
👉 https://www.almanac.com/bee-houses-native-solitary-bees
We love sharing the spotlight with these hardworking native bees.
Have you spotted any interesting native bees lately?

Even though it still feels like summer, we’re already thinking about fall. 🍂🐝Right now we’re focused on making sure our ...
08/18/2026

Even though it still feels like summer, we’re already thinking about fall. 🍂🐝
Right now we’re focused on making sure our colonies stay strong, have enough space, and are free of pests so they can head into cooler weather in good shape.
A little preparation now goes a long way later.
What’s one thing you’re already preparing for this fall?

This morning we made a batch of inverted sugar syrup for our bees! 🐝🍯Right now in Southeast Texas we’re in a nectar dear...
08/15/2026

This morning we made a batch of inverted sugar syrup for our bees! 🐝🍯
Right now in Southeast Texas we’re in a nectar dearth — the summer heat has reduced natural forage, so the bees aren’t bringing in as much nectar. Feeding helps keep the colonies strong and prevents them from using up their honey stores too quickly.
We’re also using this syrup to help prep our newer hives for the winter months. Strong stores now mean healthier, better-prepared colonies when the cooler weather arrives.
Inverted syrup is easier for the bees to digest because the sugar has already been broken down into simple sugars (glucose and fructose). This saves the colony energy compared to regular sugar syrup.
How we make it:
Sugar + water + a small amount of acid (lemon juice or citric acid), gently heated to help the inversion process.
Supporting our hives through the dearth and setting them up for winter is an important part of what we do at Otrera’s.
Have you started preparing your hives for fall and winter yet?

Bee Myth: “Bees get more aggressive in late summer.”The truth is a little more complicated…Late summer is when colonies ...
08/14/2026

Bee Myth: “Bees get more aggressive in late summer.”
The truth is a little more complicated…
Late summer is when colonies are at their strongest and have stored the most honey. That honey is their entire winter food supply — without it, the colony can starve when flowers stop blooming. Because of this, the bees become more defensive if they feel their hive is being threatened.
They’re not “angry” — they’re protecting the food they worked so hard to collect all season long.
Have you noticed any changes in bee behavior this time of year?

What are our bees foraging on this week? 🌼🐝Late summer still has plenty of blooms for them — and we’re loving watching t...
08/11/2026

What are our bees foraging on this week? 🌼🐝
Late summer still has plenty of blooms for them — and we’re loving watching them bring in colorful pollen and nectar.
Here’s a look at what’s currently keeping them busy around the apiary.
What’s blooming in your area right now? Drop a photo or comment below — we love seeing it!

It’s still hot out here in Southeast Texas… but the bees have it under control. ☀️🐝They collect water, fan their wings t...
08/06/2026

It’s still hot out here in Southeast Texas… but the bees have it under control. ☀️🐝
They collect water, fan their wings to create airflow, and even form “bee beards” at the entrance to help cool the hive. Nature’s air conditioning at its finest.
One of the reasons we chose top-bar hives is that they help the bees regulate temperature a little more naturally than traditional Langstroth hives. The horizontal design and natural comb allow for better airflow and heat management — which is especially helpful during these long Texas summers.
Want to help the bees stay cool this summer? You can easily make a simple DIY bee water station at home. Here’s a clear 3-step guide:
👉 https://www.homesandgardens.com/gardens/how-to-make-a-bee-watering-station
Just a shallow dish with some pebbles or rocks is all you need so the bees have a safe place to land and drink.
What’s your go-to way of staying cool this summer?

We’re excited to welcome a new landowner into the Otrera’s Apiary family! 🐝💛This weekend we visited their property, plac...
08/03/2026

We’re excited to welcome a new landowner into the Otrera’s Apiary family! 🐝💛
This weekend we visited their property, placed the stands for the new top-bar hives, and took a close look at the existing hive already on the land. We’re happy to report that the current colony is strong and healthy — and we’ll continue caring for it alongside the new hives we’re installing.
It’s always special to partner with landowners who want to support pollinators while also benefiting from agricultural valuation. We’re grateful for the trust and look forward to helping this property thrive with healthy bees for years to come.
Here’s a look at the stands going in 👆
Welcome to the family!

We’re right in the middle of a honey flow and the bees are working overtime! 🐝🍯Every day they’re bringing in nectar, fil...
07/30/2026

We’re right in the middle of a honey flow and the bees are working overtime! 🐝🍯
Every day they’re bringing in nectar, filling frames, and turning it into that beautiful golden honey. It’s one of the most exciting times of the year in the apiary — watching them build up their stores so steadily.
We’re not harvesting yet, but seeing the progress is incredibly rewarding. These late-summer flows are what help set the colonies up for a strong fall and winter.
Grateful for the hard work these little ladies put in every single day.
Anyone else watching their bees bring in the nectar right now?

Want to help bees during this hot Texas summer?Here are 3 easy things you can do right now:Provide a shallow water sourc...
07/28/2026

Want to help bees during this hot Texas summer?
Here are 3 easy things you can do right now:

Provide a shallow water source with rocks for landing
Plant heat-tolerant flowers (like lantana, salvia, or zinnias)
Avoid mowing or spraying pesticides during peak heat
Small actions = big impact.

Bees can actually recognize human faces!Studies show they can learn and remember individual faces — a pretty impressive ...
07/25/2026

Bees can actually recognize human faces!
Studies show they can learn and remember individual faces — a pretty impressive skill for such a tiny brain.
Makes you wonder if they already know who their favorite beekeeper is…

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PO Box 131
New Caney, TX
77357

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