community in Washington
Honey bee forage in Port Ludlow, Washington
Estimated forage here is better than about 83% of sites in Washington. Against other Washington sites it stands out most in spring (87th percentile) and lowest in fall (30th). Biggest nearby bee crops: alfalfa (nearest 3.0 mi NW, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Port Ludlow?
- 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, dandelion)
- 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 Port Ludlow, 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, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): summer-flowering shrubs, himalayan blackberry, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; light amber, likely to stay liquid a long time
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): summer-flowering shrubs, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, 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
- Alfalfa: about 2 acres in a typical year, nearest 3 mi NW, blooms late May – late Sep (grown 1 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 Port Ludlow
Mostly: North Pacific Broadleaf Landslide Forest; Open water; North Pacific Maritime Dry-Mesic Douglas-fir-Western Hemlock Forest.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0 mi S; open water 0 mi S.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 56% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Port Ludlow ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 96th | 99th | 74th | 36th |
| Washington | 83rd | 87th | 32nd | 30th |
| Puget Lowland | 35th | 40th | 36th | 53rd |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 60% 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 Port Ludlow: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Hansville 6 mi · Lofall 7 mi · Port Gamble Tribal Community 8 mi · Marrowstone 8 mi · Port Hadlock-Irondale 9 mi · Freeland 10 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 Port Ludlow (47.9146, -122.6951); 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.