community in Arizona
Honey bee forage in Golden Shores, Arizona
Estimated forage here is better than about 90% of sites in Arizona. Against other Arizona sites it stands out most in spring (79th percentile) and lowest in fall (30th). Biggest nearby bee crops: alfalfa (nearest 2.6 mi S, grown 3 of the last 5 years); citrus (nearest 3.3 mi S).
When is the honey flow in Golden Shores?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jan 16 to Mar 31, peaking late Feb (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Apr 16 to Apr 30 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Dec 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Golden Shores, 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 Feb 13.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, rabbitbrush, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, rabbitbrush, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); dark amber
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, rabbitbrush; extra 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
- Alfalfa: about 7 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.6 mi S, blooms early Apr – late May (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Citrus: about 1 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.3 mi S, blooms early Mar – late Apr
From USDA's crop maps for 2021–2025; fields rotate, so a crop counts by how often it was grown. Listing a field says nothing about its owner.
The land and water around Golden Shores
Mostly: Sonora-Mojave Creosotebush-White Bursage Desert Scrub; Open water; Interior West Ruderal Riparian Scrub.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.36 mi W; creek, wetland or wet meadow 1.34 mi W.
How Golden Shores ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 30th | 48th | 10th | 28th |
| Arizona | 90th | 79th | 55th | 30th |
| Mojave Basin and Range | 96th | 92nd | 91st | 42nd |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 49% 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 Golden Shores: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Topock 4 mi · Arizona Village 8 mi · Mohave Valley 10 mi · Mojave Ranch Estates 13 mi · Willow Valley 13 mi · Mesquite Creek 13 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 Golden Shores (34.7819, -114.4777); 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.