community in Alabama
Honey bee forage in Lillian, Alabama
Estimated forage here is better than about 38% of sites in Alabama. Against other Alabama sites it stands out most in fall (99th percentile) and lowest in spring (12th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 2.1 mi W, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 2.1 mi W, grown 1 of the last 5 years); millet (nearest 2.1 mi W, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Lillian?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Feb 1 to Apr 30, peaking late Feb (clovers: white, alsike and red, summer-flowering shrubs, dandelion)
- Season ends: Dec 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Lillian, 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 Feb 21.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): summer-flowering shrubs, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers; amber
- Whole season (March to November): summer-flowering shrubs, clovers: white, alsike and red, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); 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
- Soybeans: about 10 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.2 mi NW, blooms early Apr – early Jun (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 9 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.2 mi NW, blooms late Apr – late May (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Millet: about 17 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.7 mi W, blooms late Apr – late May (grown 2 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 Lillian
Mostly: Open water; East Gulf Coastal Plain Near-Coast Pine Wet Flatwoods; East Gulf Coastal Plain Near-Coast Pine Flatwoods.
Nearest mapped water: open water 0.04 mi S; pond, lake or river 0.05 mi SE.
How Lillian ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 41st | 61st | 13th | 53rd |
| Alabama | 38th | 12th | 34th | 99th |
| Southern Coastal Plain | 26th | 34th | 68th | 85th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 72% 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 Lillian: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Perdido Beach 7 mi · Elberta 11 mi · Orange Beach 14 mi · Foley 15 mi · Summerdale 16 mi · Bon Secour 19 mi
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 Lillian (30.4189, -87.4208); 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.