community in Washington
Honey bee forage in Mead, Washington
Estimated forage here is better than about 70% of sites in Washington. Against other Washington sites it stands out most in fall (89th percentile) and lowest in spring (68th). Biggest nearby bee crops: canola (nearest 1.3 mi SE, grown 1 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.5 mi E, grown 3 of the last 5 years); chickpeas (nearest 1.6 mi E, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Mead?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, willows, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: May 1 to Jul 31, peaking early May (clovers: white, alsike and red, snowberry, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Aug 16 to Aug 31 (alfalfa, snowberry, dandelion)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Mead, 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 9.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, snowberry, willows; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): snowberry, clovers: white, alsike and red, alfalfa, dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): alfalfa, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers; extra light amber, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, snowberry, alfalfa; 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 214 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.8 mi E, blooms late Apr – early Jul (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 156 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.3 mi SE, blooms early Jun – early Oct (grown 2 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 Mead
Mostly: Northern Rocky Mountain Ponderosa Pine Woodland and Savanna; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Northern Rocky Mountain Montane-Foothill Deciduous Shrubland.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.03 mi SE; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.04 mi S.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 64% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Mead ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 86th | 81st | 83rd | 85th |
| Washington | 70th | 68th | 70th | 89th |
| Northern Rockies | 94th | 99th | 59th | 91st |
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 Mead: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Fairwood 3 mi · Country Homes 4 mi · Green Bluff 4 mi · Town and Country 5 mi · Millwood 7 mi · Spokane 9 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 Mead (47.7795, -117.3499); 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.