community in Arizona
Honey bee forage in Why, Arizona
Estimated forage here is better than about 44% of sites in Arizona. Against other Arizona sites it stands out most in fall (52nd percentile) and lowest in summer (30th). Expect a dearth from late May to late Sep.
When is the honey flow in Why?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, native wildflowers)
- Main flow: Feb 1 to Apr 15, peaking late Feb (clovers: white, alsike and red, native wildflowers, dandelion)
- Dearth: Jan 1 to Jan 15
- Dearth: May 16 to Sep 30
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Why, 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 16.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, native wildflowers, dandelion, spring-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): rabbitbrush, garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; dark 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): rabbitbrush, clovers: white, alsike and red, native wildflowers, dandelion; 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 Why
Mostly: Sonoran Paloverde-Mixed Cacti Desert Scrub; Sonora-Mojave Creosotebush-White Bursage Desert Scrub; North American Warm Desert Wash Shrubland.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.15 mi S; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.25 mi SW.
How Why ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 6th | 23rd | 3rd | 32nd |
| Arizona | 44th | 44th | 30th | 52nd |
| Sonoran Basin and Range | 72nd | 67th | 74th | 91st |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 93% 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 Why: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Charco 8 mi · Ajo 13 mi · Wahak Hotrontk 22 mi · Pisinemo 29 mi · Kaka 30 mi · Ventana 32 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 Why (32.259, -112.7306); 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.