community in Washington
Honey bee forage in Prairie Ridge, Washington
Estimated forage here is better than about 80% of sites in Washington. Against other Washington sites it stands out most in spring (82nd percentile) and lowest in summer (37th). Biggest nearby bee crops: caneberries (nearest 3.3 mi NW); pumpkins (nearest 3.3 mi NW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 3.3 mi NW, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Prairie Ridge?
- First forage: Feb 16 (dandelion, maples)
- Main flow: Mar 16 to Jun 30, peaking late Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Prairie Ridge, 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): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs, maples; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, summer-flowering shrubs; 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, summer-flowering shrubs, garden flowers; 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
- Caneberries: about 64 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.3 mi NW, blooms early Mar – early Jul
- Pumpkins: about 2 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.3 mi NW, blooms early Jun – early Oct (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 6 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.5 mi NW, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Squash: about 2 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.5 mi NW, blooms early Jun – early Oct (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 Prairie Ridge
Mostly: North Pacific Broadleaf Landslide Forest; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Western Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.43 mi E; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.82 mi SE.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 85% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Prairie Ridge ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 94th | 98th | 76th | 61st |
| Washington | 80th | 82nd | 37th | 57th |
| Puget Lowland | 28th | 26th | 48th | 96th |
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 Prairie Ridge: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Prairie Heights 1 mi · South Prairie 2 mi · Tehaleh 3 mi · Crocker 4 mi · Bonney Lake 4 mi · Alderton 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 Prairie Ridge (47.1444, -122.1392); 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.