community in Washington
Honey bee forage in Machias, Washington
Estimated forage here is better than about 88% of sites in Washington. Against other Washington sites it stands out most in spring (90th percentile) and lowest in summer (35th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 3.7 mi W, grown 4 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Machias?
- 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 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Machias, 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 15.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, summer-flowering shrubs, dandelion, maples; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): summer-flowering shrubs, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers; 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, summer-flowering shrubs, dandelion, maples; 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 8 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.7 mi W, blooms late Jun – late Aug (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 Machias
Mostly: North Pacific Maritime Mesic-Wet Douglas-fir-Western Hemlock Forest; North Pacific Broadleaf Landslide Forest; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.08 mi SW; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.16 mi SW.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 57% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Machias ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 98th | 99th | 76th | 46th |
| Washington | 88th | 90th | 35th | 40th |
| Puget Lowland | 49th | 52nd | 42nd | 72nd |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 39% of the land here is scored with national averages for its vegetation type rather than measured plant cover, so the wild-plant part of this estimate is rougher than the crop part.
The national forage map around Machias: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Cavalero 2 mi · Lake Stevens 2 mi · Bunk Foss 3 mi · Three Lakes 4 mi · Lochsloy 5 mi · Snohomish 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 Machias (47.9918, -122.0517); 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.