community in Washington
Honey bee forage in Four Lakes, Washington
Estimated forage here is better than about 74% of sites in Washington. Against other Washington sites it stands out most in fall (95th percentile) and lowest in spring (62nd). Biggest nearby bee crops: canola (nearest 0.1 mi S, grown 2 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.3 mi NW, grown 4 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Four Lakes?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, willows, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: May 1 to Jul 15, peaking early Jun (canola)
- Fall flow: Aug 1 to Aug 15 (alfalfa, spotted and diffuse knapweed)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Four Lakes, 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 13.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): canola, dandelion, willows, clovers: white, alsike and red; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Summer honey (July and August): alfalfa, canola, snowberry, spotted and diffuse knapweed; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): alfalfa, spotted and diffuse knapweed, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Whole season (March to November): canola, alfalfa, 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
- Canola: about 246 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi S, blooms early May – late Jul (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 47 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi NW, blooms late Jun – early Oct (grown 4 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 Four Lakes
Mostly: Northern Rocky Mountain Ponderosa Pine Woodland and Savanna; Inter-Mountain Basins Big Sagebrush Shrubland; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.15 mi S; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.15 mi SW.
How Four Lakes ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 88th | 70th | 87th | 95th |
| Washington | 74th | 62nd | 91st | 95th |
| Columbia Plateau | 96th | 89th | 96th | 96th |
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 Four Lakes: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Cheney 5 mi · Fairchild AFB 5 mi · Medical Lake 5 mi · Airway Heights 6 mi · Spokane 10 mi · Spangle 13 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 Four Lakes (47.5626, -117.5792); 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.