community in California
Honey bee forage in Castella, California
Estimated forage here is better than about 59% of sites in California. Against other California sites it stands out most in spring (66th percentile) and lowest in fall (26th). Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow, less than 0.1 mi away.
When is the honey flow in Castella?
- First forage: Feb 16 (kinnikinnick, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Mar 16 to Jun 15, peaking late Apr (snowberry, kinnikinnick, summer-flowering shrubs)
- Season ends: Aug 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Castella, 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): snowberry, summer-flowering shrubs, kinnikinnick, dandelion; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): snowberry, summer-flowering shrubs, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers, spotted and diffuse knapweed, dandelion; amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): snowberry, summer-flowering shrubs, kinnikinnick, dandelion; 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 Castella
Mostly: Mediterranean California Mesic Mixed Conifer Forest and Woodland; Mediterranean California Mixed Evergreen Forest; Mediterranean California Lower Montane Conifer Forest and Woodland.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.06 mi S; pond, lake or river 0.1 mi SE.
How Castella ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 61st | 93rd | 37th | 10th |
| California | 59th | 66th | 64th | 26th |
| Klamath Mountains/California High North Coast Range | 58th | 68th | 23rd | 46th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 86% 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 Castella: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Dunsmuir 4 mi · McCloud 10 mi · Mount Shasta 10 mi · Weed 17 mi · Carrick 19 mi · Lakehead 20 mi
All towns in California · 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 Castella (41.1772, -122.2872); 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.