town in Washington
Honey bee forage in Colton, Washington
Estimated forage here is better than about 43% of sites in Washington. Against other Washington sites it stands out most in summer (76th percentile) and lowest in fall (24th). Biggest nearby bee crops: chickpeas (nearest 0.1 mi NW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); canola (nearest 0.4 mi NE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); lentils (nearest 0.2 mi N, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Colton?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, canola, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jun 1 to Jul 31, peaking early Jul (canola, chick Peas)
- Season ends: Aug 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Colton, 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 10.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): canola, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, lentils; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Summer honey (July and August): chick Peas, canola, alfalfa, lentils; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, spotted and diffuse knapweed; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): canola, chick Peas, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; white, 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
- Chickpeas: about 3,290 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi SE, blooms early Jul – late Jul (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Canola: about 180 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi N, blooms late Apr – early Jul (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 Colton
Mostly: Winter Wheat; Spring Wheat; Chick Peas.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.13 mi W; pond, lake or river 0.41 mi NW.
Things to watch
- Lots of crops with little or no bee value. About 56% of the land within 3 miles is in crops bees get little from (such as wheat and other grains).
How Colton ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 73rd | 52nd | 84th | 28th |
| Washington | 43rd | 39th | 76th | 24th |
| Columbia Plateau | 82nd | 59th | 92nd | 5th |
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 Colton: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Uniontown 3 mi · Clarkston 11 mi · Pullman 12 mi · West Clarkston-Highland 12 mi · Clarkston Heights-Vineland 13 mi · Albion 17 mi
All towns in Washington · 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 Colton (46.5675, -117.1284); 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.