community in Washington
Honey bee forage in Maple Heights-Lake Desire, Washington
Estimated forage here is better than about 85% of sites in Washington. Against other Washington sites it stands out most in spring (89th percentile) and lowest in summer (31st). Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow, less than 0.1 mi away.
When is the honey flow in Maple Heights-Lake Desire?
- First forage: Feb 16 (dandelion, maples, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Mar 16 to Jun 15, peaking late Apr (summer-flowering shrubs, maples, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Fall flow: Jul 1 to Jul 15 (summer-flowering shrubs, himalayan blackberry)
- Season ends: Sep 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Maple Heights-Lake Desire, 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 18.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): summer-flowering shrubs, maples, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; light amber, likely to stay liquid a long time
- Summer honey (July and August): summer-flowering shrubs, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, himalayan blackberry; light amber, likely to stay liquid a long time
- 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): summer-flowering shrubs, maples, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; light amber, likely to stay liquid a long time
Nectar-source estimate (plants weighted by how much bees favor them), not a pollen analysis. Full honey estimate.
Bee crops within flight range
No rated bee crops within about 3.7 miles of the town center. The forage here is wild plants, trees and gardens.
The land and water around Maple Heights-Lake Desire
Mostly: North Pacific Broadleaf Landslide Forest; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns).
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.02 mi E; pond, lake or river 0.16 mi SE.
How Maple Heights-Lake Desire ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 97th | 99th | 74th | 40th |
| Washington | 85th | 89th | 31st | 33rd |
| Puget Lowland | 38th | 45th | 34th | 60th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 51% 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 Maple Heights-Lake Desire: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Shadow Lake 2 mi · Fairwood 2 mi · East Renton Highlands 3 mi · Hobart 4 mi · Covington 5 mi · Mirrormont 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 Maple Heights-Lake Desire (47.4369, -122.093); 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.