Upcoming classes/events:

Sunday, May 23, 2010: 1-4pm

Convocation of Bee Lovers

The Melissa Garden has become a magnet for a community of bee lovers. We would like to pull our special friends together for an afternoon of celebrating the bees and affirming our ongoing commitment to supporting them. The garden will be in glorious full bloom, and provide the opportunity to identify plants the bees are enthusiastic about that you might plant in your own garden.

Michael Thiele will take us on a tour of the hives, and lead a ceremony for the bees. We'll have time to gather together and hear from each of you. Please come and share your stories on how the honeybees have touched your life along with recommendations for what you believe supports their health and wellbeing.

Jana Muhar and her Bulgarian dancers will be there with line dances they learned in Eastern Europe at springtime honeybee festivals. And we'll have some yummy snacks made with honey. All are welcome, beekeepers or not, along with children and seniors. Space is limited so you must RSVP.

Fee : $20

Saturday, June 19, 2010: 10am-3pm

Bees, Bees, Bees Galore

This tour appreciates the pollinators that make it all happen! On this tour we'll visit sweeeet local business Beekind, owned by Doug and Katia Vincent, followed by a potluck lunch in Healdsburg at The Melissa Garden, a honeybee sanctuary founded in 2007.

To sign up, register with www.dailyacts.org.

Tours of The Melissa Garden, by Garden Designer Kate Frey

Garden Tour Date schedule for 2010:
  Friday, March 19 ~ 10 - 11:30 am
  Friday, April 16 ~ 10 - 11:30 am
  Friday, May 21 ~ 10 - 11:30 am
  Friday, June 11 ~ 10 - 11:30 am
  Friday, July 16 ~ 10 - 11:30 am
  Friday, August 20 ~ 10 - 11:30 am
  Friday, September 17 ~ 10 - 11:30 am

Come experience the buzz and blossoms at our honeybee sanctuary with garden designer Kate Frey. We will have regular tours throughout the year on the first Friday of most months. Learn why we decided to create this special garden as a honeybee habitat, and about some of the honeybee and pollinator plants in our lush garden. One of our beekeepers will be on the tour to give a brief introduction to some of our “alternative hives.” Wear comfortable shoes.

Kate Frey is an internationally distinguished garden designer who has been awarded two gold medals at London’s Chelsea Flower Show. She worked for 18 years at Fetzer’s organic garden in Hopland, CA which was used as a test plot for pollinators by Dr. Gordon Frankie at U. C. Berkeley. She now specializes in creating beautiful habitat and pollinator gardens.

Registration

Fee: $25. Please register in advance by sending an email to queenbee@themelissagarden.com, or by phone: (707) 433-2114. Be sure to include both your email address and phone number when you make your reservation. We will email you a map and the address to mail your check to.

Buzz and Blossoms for Kids:
A bee & pollinator program for children

We offer tours for groups of children. This is an opportunity for children to come to the beautiful Melissa Garden Honeybee Sanctuary, where bees have a home amid the spectacularly colorful garden. We will offer insights into the life of the bees and their relationships with the environment, and the opportunity to use all of our senses in exploring Mother Earth. Bee hives will be opened and honey tasted. We will explore various natural hives and offer a gentle introduction to beekeeping as a path to the wonder and beauty of nature. These tours are offered by husband-wife team of Michael and Leslie Thiele, parents of two young children. Michael is a holistic beekeeper and Leslie is a professional gardener. To schedule a tour, please contact the Melissa Garden at queenbee@themelissagarden.com or by phone, (707) 433-2114.

Previous Classes

List of previous classes

Work Exchange

The Melissa Garden offers a work exchange program. In exchange for two hours of work, 50% or the registration fee will be waived for any class. Work entails helping to set up for the class – such as helping to prepare tea and snacks; create bouquets for the tables; register participants; or clean-up after the class. Please inquire about work exchange by sending an email to queenbee@themelissagarden.com or by phone, (707) 433-2114.