Since Richard wrote for us for many years, I had the good fortune to visit with him and his family many times, and we became quite close friends. The absolute best visits, however, was a spring-time trip to one of his beeyards. It was in a glade in a forest, only a shadowy wagon trail to the opening, but then full sun and about a dozen hives. One was just starting to swarm, bees swirling, darting here and there, but gradually lifting toward the sunny opening in the trees. Richard leaped out of his old pickup and walked among the bees, looking, reaching, talking to them. As he watched, he slowly lifted his right hand, and gently picked the queen out of the mass of flying bees and brought her over to me standing in the shade by the truck. "It takes a little practice", he said, "but it always works". The grin on his face was incredible. 







Kim Flottum

Editor, Bee Culture Magazine





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