city in California
Honey bee forage in Davis, California
Estimated forage here is better than about 81% of sites in California. Spring, summer and fall all rank about the same against other California sites. Biggest nearby bee crops: sunflower (nearest 0.4 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years); almonds (nearest 1.0 mi N); alfalfa (nearest 0.3 mi N, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Davis?
- First forage: Jan 16 (dandelion, maples, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Feb 1 to Jun 15, peaking early Mar (clovers: white, alsike and red, sunflower, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Davis, 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 Mar 2.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, sunflower, dandelion, alfalfa; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, sunflower, dandelion, 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
- Sunflower: about 251 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.4 mi S, blooms late Apr – late Jun (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Almonds: about 431 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.4 mi E, blooms early Feb – late Mar
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 Davis
Mostly: Almonds; Developed, medium intensity; Walnuts.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.29 mi N; pond, lake or river 0.88 mi SE.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 89% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Davis ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 86th | 95th | 47th | 35th |
| California | 81st | 73rd | 74th | 70th |
| Central California Valley | 41st | 42nd | 81st | 84th |
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 Davis: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
University of California-Davis 2 mi · El Macero 3 mi · Woodland 8 mi · Dixon 9 mi · West Sacramento 10 mi · Monument Hills 11 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 Davis (38.5561, -121.7378); 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.