community in Colorado
Honey bee forage in Aetna Estates, Colorado
Estimated forage here is better than about 93% of sites in Colorado. Against other Colorado sites it stands out most in spring (97th percentile) and lowest in fall (40th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 0.1 mi N, grown 2 of the last 5 years); sunflower (nearest 1.1 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years); sorghum (nearest 0.5 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Aetna Estates?
- First forage: Mar 1 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion)
- Main flow: Apr 1 to Aug 31, peaking early Jul (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Aetna Estates, 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 May 4.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, 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), sunflower, clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, sunflower; 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
- Corn: about 105 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi W, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Sunflower: about 37 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.1 mi N, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 1 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 Aetna Estates
Mostly: Northern & Central Plains Ruderal & Planted Grassland; Fallow / idle cropland; Winter Wheat.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.21 mi SE; pond, lake or river 0.33 mi W.
How Aetna Estates ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 70th | 63rd | 77th | 67th |
| Colorado | 93rd | 97th | 83rd | 40th |
| High Plains | 89th | 88th | 79th | 61st |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
The national forage map around Aetna Estates: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Aurora 3 mi · Watkins 6 mi · Denver 11 mi · Commerce City 12 mi · Foxfield 12 mi · Four Square Mile 12 mi
All towns in Colorado · National map · How the scoring works
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 Aetna Estates (39.7381, -104.6732); 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.