community in Arizona
Honey bee forage in Whetstone, Arizona
Estimated forage here is better than about 90% of sites in Arizona. Against other Arizona sites it stands out most in spring (92nd percentile) and lowest in summer (63rd). Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer), 1.13 mi W.
When is the honey flow in Whetstone?
- First forage: Jan 16 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), native wildflowers)
- Main flow: Mar 1 to May 15, peaking late Apr (summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), 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 Whetstone, 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): summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), summer-flowering shrubs, native wildflowers; white, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), rabbitbrush; amber
- Whole season (March to November): summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), summer-flowering shrubs; extra 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 Whetstone
Mostly: Chihuahuan Mixed Desert and Thornscrub; North American Warm Desert Ruderal & Planted Scrub; Chihuahuan Loamy Plains Desert Grassland.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 1.13 mi W; creek, wetland or wet meadow 1.38 mi N.
Things to watch
- No mapped water within a mile. Plan to provide water. Small ponds, ditches, troughs and pools don't show on these maps.
How Whetstone ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 29th | 68th | 13th | 50th |
| Arizona | 90th | 92nd | 63rd | 72nd |
| Madrean Archipelago | 71st | 81st | 57th | 53rd |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 97% 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 Whetstone: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Huachuca City 7 mi · Sierra Vista 11 mi · St. David 12 mi · Tombstone 13 mi · Benson 14 mi · Elgin 15 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 Whetstone (31.7189, -110.292); 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.