May 2011 Newsletter

Greetings Dear Purrfumery Friends!

Save the Date! Please join us from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 21 for a very special author event in the Perfumer's Garden, 727 Sea View Drive, El Cerrito, CA 94530. Judith Adamson, author of "Backyard Beekeepers of the Bay Area" will be here to share her book, a profile of the beekeeping movement in the San Francisco Bay Area. The book is also available on Judith's website, www.BackyardBeeKeepersBayArea.com. Judith visited the Purrfumery a few years ago and interviewed me about my hives and how I use beeswax, propolis and other bee-made products in my perfumes. She interviewed other beekeepers, too – some of them will be here for the event. Judith's book is a great read about some of us local bee lovers and looks at scientific, philosophical and spiritual approaches to beekeeping. The book also discusses Colony Collapse Disorder – when worker bees abandon their hive and their queen – a very disturbing phenomenon that threatens many of our favorite plants. Bees pollinate crops and flowers – I don't even want to imagine a world without them! With its beautiful watercolor paintings, interviews and resource pages, Judith's book inspires people to help bees where they can. I am delighted to host Judith and my fellow beekeepers! This is a wonderful opportunity to learn about bees, the flowers they love and how you can create your own bee colony.

"The kitties and I love Steffy Sue, our server at Sam's Log Cabin in Albany. She plays ukulele, loves kitties and bees, and is a registered dietician. Her fanciful "bee love" flower tattoos and fun spirit delights us. Thanks, Steffy Sue!"

Esteemed Bay Area Beekeepers

Beekeepers at the event will include Pat Gibbons, a longtime wedding flower designer based in El Cerrito. Pat and I started our flower businesses around the same time 27 years ago and we always helped each other. She's an incredible designer and an amazing gardener, too! Pat will bring a list of plants that bees love (bee-loved plants!) a great resource for your own gardens. I am also looking forward to seeing beekeeper David Eichorn, my bee guru. Several years ago when I discovered a bee swarm in the Perfumer's Garden, I called David to remove the bees. David arrived and explained that bees swarm when they multiply – as many as half of the bees stay with their new queen in the original hive and the other half take their old queen in search of a new place to live. Like other animals, bees look for an ideal environment where they can settle down and live their lives. I had wanted David to remove the bees but the more he told me, the more I wanted to keep them! They chose the Perfumer's Garden! I felt so honored! David taught me how to keep bees and how to build my hives. He is an amazing source of information, so bring your questions. We'll enjoy some light snacks, too. I'll serve scones, local cheeses and of course, plenty of honey from my own hives. There will also be a table of tea and aromatic, honey-infused beverages. Yum! The Purrfumery will be open from 1 to 5 p.m. I'll be offering my sumptuous Honey perfume at a special price on that day, too! Beth Schreibman Gehring says "Honey is a glorious fragrance that is so completely seductive and narcotic that it should be illegal!" I will include a little Jasmine-Honey solid perfume (made with beeswax from my hives) with every Purrfumery purchase. I hope to see you here!

Last Days of Spring Fling Sale

The Spring Fling Sale, a special event to commemorate this year's spectacular bee season, is in its final days, my dear Purrfumery friends! Right now all liquid perfumes, crème perfumes, eau de parfum, colognes and limited edition perfumes are Buy 1, Get 1 Half Off. The Spring Fling Sale ends April 30. This is a great opportunity to try something new and get another scent of equal or lesser value at half the regular price. Don't forget Mom! Mother's Day is right around the corner on Sunday, May 8. To get in on the fun, email me at laurie@purrfumery.com or call the Purrfumery at 510-528-8040. I will take Spring Fling orders via email and phone only. I hope to see you soon! Come visit me at the Purrfumery! Peace, love, purrfume, and kitty cats, ~XOXO, Laurie