community in Washington
Honey bee forage in Shadow Lake, Washington
Estimated forage here is better than about 92% of sites in Washington. Against other Washington sites it stands out most in spring (92nd percentile) and lowest in summer (40th). Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow, less than 0.1 mi away.
When is the honey flow in Shadow Lake?
- First forage: Feb 16 (dandelion, maples, willows)
- Main flow: Mar 16 to Jun 15, peaking late Apr (summer-flowering shrubs, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jul 1 to Jul 15 (summer-flowering shrubs, himalayan blackberry, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Sep 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Shadow Lake, 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, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, maples; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): summer-flowering shrubs, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers; 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): summer-flowering shrubs, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, 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
No rated bee crops within about 3.7 miles of the town center. The forage here is wild plants, trees and gardens.
The land and water around Shadow Lake
Mostly: Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns); North Pacific Broadleaf Landslide Forest.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0 mi S; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.22 mi SE.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 52% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Shadow Lake ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 99th | 99th | 77th | 48th |
| Washington | 92nd | 92nd | 40th | 42nd |
| Puget Lowland | 62nd | 61st | 54th | 75th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 45% 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 Shadow Lake: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Maple Heights-Lake Desire 2 mi · Covington 3 mi · Maple Valley 3 mi · Hobart 4 mi · Fairwood 4 mi · East Renton Highlands 5 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 Shadow Lake (47.4061, -122.0799); 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.