city in Colorado
Honey bee forage in Brush, Colorado
Estimated forage here is better than about 99% of sites in Colorado. Against other Colorado sites it stands out most in spring and summer (98th percentile) and lowest in fall (26th). Biggest nearby bee crops: alfalfa (nearest 0.2 mi NE); corn (nearest 0.3 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Brush?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: May 1 to Aug 15, peaking early Jul (alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Brush, 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 3.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, alfalfa, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Summer honey (July and August): alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), garden flowers; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): alfalfa, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, likely to set within weeks to a few 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 846 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.5 mi S, blooms early Jun – late Aug (grown 4 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 3,416 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.1 mi N, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 3 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 Brush
Mostly: Corn; Western Great Plains Shortgrass Prairie; Northern & Central Plains Ruderal & Planted Grassland.
Nearest mapped water: open water 0.08 mi S; pond, lake or river 1.08 mi NW.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 59% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Brush ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 82nd | 65th | 86th | 59th |
| Colorado | 99th | 98th | 98th | 26th |
| High Plains | 98th | 89th | 94th | 50th |
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 Brush: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Snyder 5 mi · Hillrose 8 mi · Fort Morgan 8 mi · Blue Sky 9 mi · Saddle Ridge 10 mi · Log Lane Village 10 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 Brush (40.2593, -103.6363); 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.