community in Arizona
Honey bee forage in Palominas, Arizona
Estimated forage here is better than about 98% of sites in Arizona. Against other Arizona sites it stands out most in spring (99th percentile) and lowest in fall (17th). Biggest nearby bee crops: alfalfa (nearest 0.9 mi NE, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 3.1 mi N, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Palominas?
- First forage: Jan 1 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Feb 1 to May 15, peaking early Mar (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), summer-flowering trees (locust, linden))
- Fall flow: Jun 1 to Jun 30 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Season ends: Jul 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Palominas, 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 7.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), summer-flowering shrubs, clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), rabbitbrush, garden flowers; amber
- Whole season (March to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), summer-flowering shrubs, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); 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 14 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi NE, blooms late Apr – late Jun (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 2 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.1 mi N, blooms early May – early Jul (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
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 Palominas
Mostly: North American Warm Desert Ruderal & Planted Scrub; Chihuahuan Mixed Desert and Thornscrub; North American Warm Desert Ruderal & Planted Grassland.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.04 mi N; pond, lake or river 0.11 mi SW.
How Palominas ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 68th | 90th | 27th | 21st |
| Arizona | 98th | 99th | 87th | 17th |
| Madrean Archipelago | 99th | 100th | 92nd | 7th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 87% 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 Palominas: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Miracle Valley 2 mi · Sierra Vista Southeast 8 mi · Bisbee 11 mi · Naco 11 mi · Sierra Vista 17 mi · Huachuca City 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 Palominas (31.3876, -110.1151); 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.