community in Arizona
Honey bee forage in Rye, Arizona
Estimated forage here is better than about 48% of sites in Arizona. Against other Arizona sites it stands out most in spring (66th percentile) and lowest in summer (35th). Expect a dearth from early Jun to late Jun.
When is the honey flow in Rye?
- First forage: Jan 16 (dandelion, native wildflowers, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Mar 1 to Apr 30, peaking early Mar (spring-flowering shrubs, native wildflowers, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Dearth: Jun 1 to Jun 30
- Fall flow: May 16 to May 31 (native wildflowers, summer-flowering shrubs, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Rye, 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): spring-flowering shrubs, native wildflowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): rabbitbrush, garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): rabbitbrush, garden flowers; dark amber
- Whole season (March to November): spring-flowering shrubs, native wildflowers, rabbitbrush, clovers: white, alsike and red; 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 Rye
Mostly: Madrean Pinyon-Juniper Woodland; Sonoran Paloverde-Mixed Cacti Desert Scrub; Mogollon Chaparral.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.08 mi E; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.09 mi N.
How Rye ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 7th | 36th | 4th | 31st |
| Arizona | 48th | 66th | 35th | 40th |
| Arizona/New Mexico Mountains | 22nd | 52nd | 8th | 42nd |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 94% 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 Rye: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Deer Creek 2 mi · Gisela 4 mi · Oxbow Estates 6 mi · Jakes Corner 6 mi · Round Valley 7 mi · Payson 10 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 Rye (34.0978, -111.3543); 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.