Loropetalum Tree Has A Bee Nest

Question

6′ loropetalum planted last Fall; has been purple and thriving well; recently turned green. we have had a lot of rain here in N Texas after the big freeze last February. A section is turning brown and leaves look sick in that area. Closer look reveals a hive smaller than a golf ball with a cluster of bees. They are not honey bees…. Don’t know what to do

Answer 1

You need to determine what kind of insect you're dealing with; wasp nests and bee hives are very different things. Here's an article about removing a wasp nest: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/kill-wasps.htm

If you're having trouble identifying the insect, you may want to contact your local university extension service and, perhaps, text a photo to them. If they are bees, a local beekeeping group may remove it.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/what-is-extension-service.htm

As to the Loropetalum, it sounds like it got some substantial damage over the winter. You can cut the dead leaves and branches out when it's safe to do so, and then prune it next year when it's finished blooming in the spring. Here's an article that should help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/loropetalum/pruning-overgrown-loropetalum.htm