Don chose one of my photos for the cover of his book. I was simply honored that he wanted the photo. Then, in a delightful surprise way of thanking me, he offered to deliver me my first hive when I contacted him about locating some bees. He has given me something much better than money in exchange for the image.
I stood right there when he opened the lid to the hive and I watched as they flew out into the fresh mountain air after their 4 + hour ride in the car from the city. They quickly began exploring their new home.. It was amazing to watch them fly around and begin to get oriented to their new surroundings. They made small circles around their hive and then would re-enter and come out again to circle a bit larger. I learned that they would did this over and over to learn where the hive now sits.
"Bees have brought a savory sweetness into my life, just as surely as they bring sweetness to the table with their honey. They have been the light on my darker days. When I need to regenerate my weary soul, I head to where I know the bees are busy. I have my favorite spots where I bathe in their energy. I know how strange this sounds to non-bee people. How I would love to open their eyes and hearts to this simple joy and wonder of nature. I try capturing a little bit of their magic through my camera lens, but like all the best things in life, nothing compares to experiencing it in person. My hope with this book is that, as you flip through these pages, you will be inspired to get more familiar with these lovely creatures, and will also choose to learn about the plight of bees around the world as they face an uncertain future, right along with our own.”