community in Washington
Honey bee forage in Cottage Lake, Washington
Estimated forage here is better than about 83% of sites in Washington. Against other Washington sites it stands out most in spring (86th percentile) and lowest in summer (31st). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 3.1 mi E, grown 4 of the last 5 years); sunflower (nearest 3.3 mi W, grown 1 of the last 5 years); blueberries (nearest 3.3 mi W).
When is the honey flow in Cottage Lake?
- First forage: Feb 16 (dandelion, maples)
- Main flow: Mar 16 to Jun 15, peaking late Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Cottage Lake, 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 12.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs, maples; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, summer-flowering shrubs; 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, summer-flowering shrubs, garden flowers; 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
- Corn: about 170 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.1 mi E, blooms late Jun – early Aug (grown 4 of the last 5 years)
- Sunflower: about 1 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.3 mi W, blooms early Jun – late Jul (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Blueberries: about 2 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.3 mi W, blooms early Apr – late Apr
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 Cottage Lake
Mostly: Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns); Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); North Pacific Maritime Mesic-Wet Douglas-fir-Western Hemlock Forest.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.24 mi N; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.26 mi E.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 81% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Cottage Lake ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 96th | 99th | 74th | 50th |
| Washington | 83rd | 86th | 31st | 44th |
| Puget Lowland | 34th | 38th | 33rd | 79th |
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 Cottage Lake: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Woodinville 3 mi · Maltby 4 mi · High Bridge 4 mi · Duvall 5 mi · Redmond 5 mi · Union Hill-Novelty Hill 5 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 Cottage Lake (47.7465, -122.076); 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.