community in Washington
Honey bee forage in Elk Plain, Washington
Estimated forage here is better than about 83% of sites in Washington. Against other Washington sites it stands out most in spring (84th percentile) and lowest in summer (43rd). Biggest nearby bee crops: peas (nearest 2.1 mi NW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); blueberries (nearest 3.6 mi N).
When is the honey flow in Elk Plain?
- First forage: Mar 1 (dandelion, maples, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Mar 16 to Jun 30, 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 Elk Plain, 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 21.
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): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, summer-flowering shrubs; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; extra 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
- Peas: about 2 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.1 mi NW, blooms late Apr – early Jun (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Blueberries: about 2 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.6 mi N, blooms early Apr – early May
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 Elk Plain
Mostly: North Pacific Maritime Dry-Mesic Douglas-fir-Western Hemlock Forest; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); North Pacific Broadleaf Landslide Forest.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.02 mi S; pond, lake or river 0.12 mi NW.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 88% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Elk Plain ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 96th | 98th | 78th | 64th |
| Washington | 83rd | 84th | 43rd | 63rd |
| Puget Lowland | 34th | 30th | 61st | 99th |
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 Elk Plain: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
South Creek 3 mi · Frederickson 3 mi · Graham 4 mi · Spanaway 5 mi · Summit View 7 mi · South Hill 7 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 Elk Plain (47.0419, -122.3657); 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.