city in Washington
Honey bee forage in Mill Creek, Washington
Estimated forage here is better than about 75% of sites in Washington. Against other Washington sites it stands out most in spring (80th percentile) and lowest in summer (25th). Biggest nearby bee crops: blueberries (nearest 3.3 mi NE); corn (nearest 3.6 mi NE).
When is the honey flow in Mill Creek?
- First forage: Feb 16 (dandelion, maples)
- Main flow: Mar 16 to Jun 15, peaking late Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jul 1 to Jul 15 (garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Mill Creek, 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 14.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs, maples; 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; 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
- Blueberries: about 1,362 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.3 mi NE, blooms early Apr – early May
- Corn: about 58 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.6 mi NE, blooms late Jun – early Aug (grown 5 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 Mill Creek
Mostly: Developed, medium intensity; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns).
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.04 mi N; open water 0.07 mi N.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 88% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Mill Creek ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 90th | 98th | 70th | 57th |
| Washington | 75th | 80th | 25th | 53rd |
| Puget Lowland | 18th | 19th | 20th | 92nd |
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 Mill Creek: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Martha Lake 2 mi · Lake Stickney 2 mi · Mill Creek East 2 mi · Larch Way 2 mi · Eastmont 3 mi · Silver Firs 3 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 Mill Creek (47.8652, -122.2106); 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.