community in Colorado

Honey bee forage in North Washington, Colorado

Estimated forage here is better than about 31% of sites in Colorado. Against other Colorado sites it stands out most in spring (86th percentile) and lowest in fall (21st). Biggest nearby bee crops: alfalfa (nearest 3.6 mi SE, grown 2 of the last 5 years).

When is the honey flow in North Washington?

  • First forage: Mar 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
  • Main flow: Apr 1 to Jul 15, peaking late Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
  • Fall flow: Aug 1 to Sep 15 (garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
  • Season ends: Sep 30
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of North Washington, 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 Apr 27.

What the honey is made of

  • Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
  • Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
  • Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
  • Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, 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

  • Alfalfa: about 6 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.6 mi SE, blooms early Jun – late Aug (grown 2 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 North Washington

Mostly: Developed, medium intensity; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, high intensity (paved).

Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.08 mi S; open water 0.08 mi S.

Things to watch

  • Heavily developed. About 98% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.

How North Washington ranks

Against random land inOverallSpringSummerFall
Continental US26th50th45th55th
Colorado31st86th25th21st
High Plains8th61st18th45th

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 North Washington: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.

Nearby

Twin Lakes 2 mi · Welby 2 mi · Sherrelwood 2 mi · Berkley 3 mi · Derby 4 mi · Federal Heights 4 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 North Washington (39.8077, -104.98); 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.