community in Washington
Honey bee forage in Minnehaha, Washington
Estimated forage here is better than about 66% of sites in Washington. Against other Washington sites it stands out most in spring (76th percentile) and lowest in summer (16th). Biggest nearby bee crops: peaches (nearest 3.6 mi W); blueberries (nearest 3.7 mi W).
When is the honey flow in Minnehaha?
- First forage: Feb 16 (dandelion, maples, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Mar 1 to Jun 15, peaking late Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jul 1 to Jul 31 (garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Minnehaha, 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 11.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, maples, garden flowers; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; extra 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, dandelion, garden flowers, maples; 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
- Peaches: about 4 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.6 mi W, blooms late Mar – early Apr
- Blueberries: about 2 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.7 mi W, blooms late Mar – late Apr
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 Minnehaha
Mostly: Developed, medium intensity; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, high intensity (paved).
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.35 mi N; pond, lake or river 0.5 mi S.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 99% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Minnehaha ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 83rd | 97th | 64th | 53rd |
| Washington | 66th | 76th | 16th | 49th |
| Willamette Valley | 26th | 31st | 22nd | 100th |
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 Minnehaha: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Vancouver 2 mi · Hazel Dell 2 mi · Five Corners 3 mi · Barberton 4 mi · Lake Shore 4 mi · Salmon Creek 4 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 Minnehaha (45.6565, -122.6179); 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.