Our family loves the writings of naturalist John Muir, and we just finished reading the The Mountains of California recently. The last chapter was titled "The Bee-Pastures", and it was an amazing description of wild California's flowery meadows during the mid-1800s, which I'm under the impression are all but gone now, sadly. Muir also included a brief description of the first honey bees to be brought to the west coast which I thought I'd share in part with everyone. I'd highly recommend the entire chapter, and indeed all of Muir's books, to anyone who loves nature.
"The first brown honey-bees brought to California are said to have arrived in San Francisco in March, 1853. A bee-keeper by the name of Shelton purchased a lot, consisting of twelve swarms, from some one at Aspinwall, who had brought them from New York. When landed at San Francisco, all the hives contained live bees, but they finally dwindled to one hive, which was taken to San Jose. The little immigrants flourished and multiplied in the bountiful pastures of the Santa Clara Valley, sending off three swarms in the first season. The owner was killed shortly afterward, and in settling up his estate, two of the swarms were sold at auction for $105 and $110 respectively. Other importations were made, from time to time, by way of the Isthmus, and, though great pains were taken to insure success, about one half usually died on the way. Four swarms were brought safely across the plains in 1859, the hives being placed in the rear end of a wagon, which was stopped in the afternoon to allow the bees to fly and feed in the floweriest places that were within reach until dark, when the hives were closed."
The chapter also contained an illustration based off one of Muir's sketches which looks surprisingly familiar, particularly in light of its age.