community in Colorado
Honey bee forage in Hartsel, Colorado
Estimated forage here is better than about 51% of sites in Colorado. Against other Colorado sites it stands out most in fall (88th percentile) and lowest in spring (22nd). Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer), less than 0.1 mi away.
When is the honey flow in Hartsel?
- First forage: Apr 16 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), willows, dandelion)
- Main flow: May 16 to Sep 15, peaking late Jun (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), summer-flowering shrubs, native wildflowers)
- Fall flow: Oct 1 to Oct 15 (fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Hartsel, 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 Jun 12.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), native wildflowers, willows, dandelion; light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): summer-flowering shrubs, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), native wildflowers; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), summer-flowering shrubs, native wildflowers; light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), summer-flowering shrubs, native wildflowers; 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 Hartsel
Mostly: Southern Rocky Mountain Montane-Subalpine Grassland; Rocky Mountain Alpine-Montane Wet Meadow; Inter-Mountain Basins Montane Sagebrush Steppe.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.06 mi SW; open water 0.06 mi SW.
How Hartsel ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 36th | 12th | 68th | 92nd |
| Colorado | 51st | 22nd | 63rd | 88th |
| Southern Rockies | 58th | 41st | 54th | 84th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 67% 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 Hartsel: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Fairplay 18 mi · Johnson Village 22 mi · Buena Vista 23 mi · Alma 23 mi · Guffey 24 mi · Nathrop 24 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 Hartsel (39.0226, -105.8006); 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.