What People are Saying about The Melissa Garden

We had a wonderful time on the tour and after yesterday, learned a lot, enjoyed the delicious tea and fruit. It was great to meet you and spend time in your magical garden. We will certainly come back in the spring--definitely for a tour, and perhaps for a class.

- Scott, Vicki and Joey (September 2011)

Thanks for opening your garden to visitors from Port Townsend (and Rohnert Park) on June 10. Thanks for creating a safe haven for the bees. It was very interesting that you had been in Port Townsend recently! Here are some bee photos for you. Come visit us when you're back in Port Townsend and I'll show you the complete collection.

-A sister bee lover (June 2011)

Patrick and I can't thank you enough for all that you have done and are doing to bring awareness, appreciation, and inspiration to so many re bees and what they need to thrive. We had a wonderful time, connecting with old friends, learning, and meeting you and Kate in your lovely gardens and home was the highlight. I have lots more folks I'd like to bring to your monthly events and will ponder who I can bring for a retreat.
Warmest regards,

- Ellie (June 2011)

Greetings Barbara and Kate,
I apologize for not telling you sooner how very much we all loved our time spent in Melissa Garden. We learned many new things about pollinators as well as the beloved honeybee and reveled in your creative gardening. Thank you for your welcoming hospitality and generous time taken to show us new plant material and how it attracts essential pollinators. Looking forward to keeping up with you on your wonderful website and certainly hope to see you in the future.
Many thanks and best regards,

- Suzanne (May 2011)

Dear Queen Bee,
All of our group of twelve had a wonderful time at The Melissa Garden, some more than others, but that is always the case no matter what one does. The oldest of our group said: "I like the fact that they had an idea and carried it through to reality". We loved the warmth you shared with all of the people in the tour and the ease with which you handled your guests. You and Kate were truely prepared for us. My only criticism would be the plants left in the walkway to The Melissa Garden itself. They were very difficult to negotiate through with some of the people in our group. I can see leaving some in the gravel for discussion purposes, but we are always sensitive to walkways being walkways, not garden. Thanks for making our trip, interesting, informative, and very, very pleasant.
Our best to your endeavors.
P.S. We loved the dogs joining the group!

- Carol (May 2011)

The meditation was so powerful. I appreciate Michael's teachings. It is music to my ears. I especially love how he uses language to reframe our view. I love "mother" instead of "queen". I love how he uses the metaphor of the whole hive giving birth. I love his message about the smoker. (It causes the bees to go into survival mode - they think a forest fire is coming). That was most powerful. I'm glad I waited to get bees instead of rushing in. I want to work on this level with the bees. I hope to take the workshop at Spikenard Farms with Gunther Hauk.

Wishing you abundant love & light & may your bees thrive.

- Betsy (Silver Springs, Md.) April 2011

Hi Michael and Barbara,
I just was thinking of you and the bees... Thank you for a most beautiful day - so much of what was transmitted is still bubbling up in my heart and thoughts. So many insights. I'm so grateful. I realize how much the bees were the ones teaching, and how you were channelling that into your words and all of the ways you invited us to touch the bees that day. It may feel like there is so much to say and you don't get to it all, but the teachings carry on beyond the words.... it's all perfect. Thank you both.
Love love love,
Let me know about garden plantings and such... any excuse for a visit! I'm only 20 minutes away.

- Purple (February 2011)

Hi Michael,
I thought it worked nicely when the children had questions they had thought about and prepared ahead of time. there were some very interesting questions.
When you opened the egg shaped hive all of the children were entranced and from then on their experience seemed to rise to a higher level. To touch the bees in that way started to give a feeling for the oneness of life that one can experience through the biodynamic way. Those experiences with the bees took the children out of their "modern mind" into something closer to nature. I would recommend working in that direction as well as the wonderful awakened question/answer format. Hope that helps some.
I will recommend you to other classes.

- Robert (June 2010)