city in Washington
Honey bee forage in Kirkland, Washington
Estimated forage here is better than about 61% of sites in Washington. Against other Washington sites it stands out most in spring (77th percentile) and lowest in summer (9th). Biggest nearby bee crops: sunflower (nearest 3.5 mi NE, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 3.3 mi NE, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Kirkland?
- First forage: Feb 16 (dandelion, maples)
- Main flow: Mar 1 to Jun 15, peaking late Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, maples)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Kirkland, 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 10.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs, maples; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, 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; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, summer-flowering shrubs; 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
- Sunflower: about 1 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.5 mi NE, blooms early Jun – late Jul (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 4 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.3 mi NE, blooms late Jun – early Aug (grown 1 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 Kirkland
Mostly: Open water; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, medium intensity.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0 mi S; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.02 mi N.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 77% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Kirkland ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 81st | 97th | 57th | 44th |
| Washington | 61st | 77th | 9th | 38th |
| Puget Lowland | 8th | 12th | 4th | 68th |
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 Kirkland: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Yarrow Point 4 mi · Hunts Point 4 mi · Kenmore 4 mi · Redmond 4 mi · Clyde Hill 5 mi · Woodinville 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 Kirkland (47.6967, -122.2042); 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.