community in Arizona
Honey bee forage in Elgin, Arizona
Estimated forage here is better than about 92% of sites in Arizona. Spring, summer and fall all rank about the same against other Arizona sites. Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer), 0.15 mi NE.
When is the honey flow in Elgin?
- First forage: Jan 16 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), native wildflowers, dandelion)
- Main flow: Feb 16 to May 31, peaking late Mar (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), native wildflowers)
- Fall flow: Jun 16 to Oct 31 (fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Elgin, from what grows within flight range (about 3.7 miles) and when it blooms here. Dates are the model's estimate for a typical year; the spring index for this spot falls on Mar 13.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), native wildflowers, summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); amber
- Whole season (March to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), native wildflowers, summer-flowering trees (locust, linden); light amber, likely to set over some months
Nectar-source estimate (plants weighted by how much bees favor them), not a pollen analysis. Full honey estimate.
Bee crops within flight range
No rated bee crops within about 3.7 miles of the town center. The forage here is wild plants, trees and gardens.
The land and water around Elgin
Mostly: Apacherian-Chihuahuan Semi-Desert Grassland; Chihuahuan Mixed Desert and Thornscrub; North American Warm Desert Ruderal & Planted Scrub.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.15 mi NE; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.23 mi E.
How Elgin ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 36th | 60th | 26th | 75th |
| Arizona | 92nd | 87th | 85th | 92nd |
| Madrean Archipelago | 82nd | 64th | 90th | 91st |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 96% of the land here is scored with national averages for its vegetation type rather than measured plant cover, so the wild-plant part of this estimate is rougher than the crop part.
The national forage map around Elgin: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Sonoita 6 mi · Huachuca City 11 mi · Whetstone 15 mi · Sierra Vista 15 mi · Patagonia 15 mi · Benson 21 mi
An estimate from public maps (USDA crop maps 2021–2025 averaged, LANDFIRE vegetation), not a survey of the ground. Maps can't see garden plantings, understory density, other beekeepers' hives, or this year's weather. The point is the Census Bureau's published center of Elgin (31.6666, -110.5327); a yard a mile or two away can differ, so check your own spot. The FEMA flood map was not checked for this page. Benchmark 2026.5, built 2026-10-19. How this works · All sources.