community in Washington
Honey bee forage in Fairwood, Washington
Estimated forage here is better than about 65% of sites in Washington. Against other Washington sites it stands out most in fall (80th percentile) and lowest in summer (52nd). Biggest nearby bee crops: canola (nearest 1.9 mi NW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.6 mi NW, grown 4 of the last 5 years); sunflower (nearest 3.0 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Fairwood?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: May 1 to Jul 15, peaking early May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, snowberry)
- Fall flow: Aug 1 to Aug 31 (snowberry, garden flowers, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Fairwood, 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 8.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, snowberry, willows; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): snowberry, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, dandelion; 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, alfalfa; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, snowberry, garden flowers; 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
- Canola: about 16 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.4 mi NW, blooms late Apr – early Jul (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 18 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.4 mi SW, blooms early Jun – early Oct (grown 5 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 Fairwood
Mostly: Northern Rocky Mountain Ponderosa Pine Woodland and Savanna; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, medium intensity.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.41 mi NW; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.46 mi N.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 78% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Fairwood ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 83rd | 82nd | 80th | 78th |
| Washington | 65th | 68th | 52nd | 80th |
| Northern Rockies | 89th | 99th | 21st | 86th |
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 Fairwood: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Country Homes 1 mi · Town and Country 3 mi · Mead 3 mi · Spokane 7 mi · Green Bluff 8 mi · Millwood 8 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 Fairwood (47.7668, -117.4171); 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.