I crossed paths with Naomi and Larry last year as a new beekeeper looking for a horizontal

hive.  She had a couple Valkyries for sale so I drove out the Prineville to pick one up, driving up

the road I knew before I got there I had connected with a kindred spirit.  In the final stretch of

road that curves up to their home, I passed her pollinator garden in full glorious bloom, so

artfully and meticulously organized at the same time.  As a designer and artist myself who is

also analytical, I could see that in her too.  My initial journey in learning beekeeping was lead

largely by my desire to be in harmony with nature as best I could, but when Naomi started

asking me questions during the visit to acquire the hive, to which I had no answer, I began to

understand that to best tend to my bees I would need to lean into my analytical side too.  I was

fascinated by her deep dive into the science and biology, and her willingness to mentor me, as I

learn best this way with a human alongside me.  She shared so much with me, and it was so

exciting to have her wisdom just in the knick of time, I had to hurry to treat for mites, make

soccer mats, and get insulation.  Through her inspiration, I would dive into videos and reading,

and even though my girls were not best prepared for winter because of my hands off

inexperience most of last summer, they just barely made it through, and then in March Naomi

offered a little boost to help them with a brood frame and two frames of food, guiding me in how

to break the honey caps to conserve their precious energy, and…they made it through.  Just as

the crabapple tree moved into full glorious blossom filled with the gentle hum of happy bees, I

was saying a heart breaking goodbye to my sweet mentor.  I visited Naomi and Larry and was

gifted some books from her extensive library of bee books, and learned we had a shared love of

William Morris as I leafed through book after book she had of his artwork.  Naomi, was full of

light, and artful beauty, combined with the most respected knowledge based on deep research

of bees.  With her girls added to my hive, they made the immediate choice to replace the queen,

things are a little spicy and I can’t help thinking that’s Naomi’s energy keeping me on my toes, I

don’t want to let her or my bees down.  My last communication with her was on the eve of the

full strawberry moon with the snowbrush in full bloom, its scent filling the night air, sometimes I

like to think those blooms carry our essence off in their wafting scent trail like bees.

I will be forever grateful to her, and now as I read through the books she gifted me with her

handwritten notes inside, it's as if I still have a bit of her mentorship as I feel my way in the dark.

Warm regards,

Kim Brannock