community in California
Honey bee forage in East Nicolaus, California
Estimated forage here is better than about 77% of sites in California. Against other California sites it stands out most in spring (65th percentile) and lowest in fall (17th). Biggest nearby bee crops: almonds (nearest 0.5 mi N); popcorn and ornamental corn (nearest 0.4 mi W, grown 1 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.6 mi W, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in East Nicolaus?
- First forage: Jan 16 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, almonds)
- Main flow: Feb 16 to Mar 15, peaking early Mar (almonds, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion)
- Season ends: Jul 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of East Nicolaus, 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 3.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), almonds, alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); amber
- Whole season (March to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), almonds, alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
Nectar-source estimate (plants weighted by how much bees favor them), not a pollen analysis. Full honey estimate.
Bee crops within flight range
- Almonds: about 440 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.5 mi N, 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 East Nicolaus
Mostly: Walnuts; Rice; Almonds.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.03 mi SW; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.32 mi SE.
How East Nicolaus ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 81st | 92nd | 26th | 4th |
| California | 77th | 65th | 49th | 17th |
| Central California Valley | 34th | 35th | 49th | 50th |
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 East Nicolaus: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Nicolaus 2 mi · Trowbridge 2 mi · Rio Oso 3 mi · Plumas Lake 5 mi · Robbins 9 mi · Sheridan 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 East Nicolaus (38.91, -121.5443); 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.