community in Arizona
Honey bee forage in Mead Ranch, Arizona
Estimated forage here is better than about 84% of sites in Arizona. Against other Arizona sites it stands out most in summer (90th percentile) and lowest in fall (69th). Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer), 0.15 mi SE.
When is the honey flow in Mead Ranch?
- First forage: Feb 16 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Apr 1 to Jun 30, peaking late Apr (summer-flowering shrubs, spring-flowering shrubs, native wildflowers)
- Fall flow: Aug 1 to Aug 15 (fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), summer-flowering shrubs)
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Mead Ranch, 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 Apr 16.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): summer-flowering shrubs, spring-flowering shrubs, native wildflowers, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), summer-flowering shrubs, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), native wildflowers; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), rabbitbrush; amber
- Whole season (March to November): summer-flowering shrubs, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), native wildflowers; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
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 Mead Ranch
Mostly: Southern Rocky Mountain Ponderosa Pine Woodland; Madrean Encinal; Madrean Lower Montane Pine-Oak Forest and Woodland.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.15 mi SE; pond, lake or river 0.25 mi E.
How Mead Ranch ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 20th | 54th | 29th | 47th |
| Arizona | 84th | 83rd | 90th | 69th |
| Arizona/New Mexico Mountains | 78th | 82nd | 69th | 64th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 95% 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 Mead Ranch: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Tonto Village 2 mi · Kohls Ranch 4 mi · Bear Flat 6 mi · Hunter Creek 8 mi · Star Valley 8 mi · Christopher Creek 8 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 Mead Ranch (34.3461, -111.1428); 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.