community in California
Honey bee forage in East Richmond Heights, California
Estimated forage here is better than about 80% of sites in California. Against other California sites it stands out most in fall (84th percentile) and lowest in summer (61st). Biggest nearby bee crops: grapes (nearest 3.4 mi NW).
When is the honey flow in East Richmond Heights?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Jan 16 to Apr 30, peaking early Mar (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jun 1 to Jun 15 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), garden flowers, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of East Richmond Heights, 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 23.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), dandelion; 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), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers; 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
- Grapes: about 1 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.4 mi NW, blooms late Mar – late Apr
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 Richmond Heights
Mostly: Developed, medium intensity; California Coastal Live Oak Woodland and Savanna; Developed, high intensity (paved).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.11 mi NE; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.13 mi NE.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 60% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How East Richmond Heights ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 85th | 92nd | 35th | 50th |
| California | 80th | 65th | 61st | 84th |
| Central California Foothills and Coastal Mountains | 48th | 16th | 50th | 74th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 32% 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 East Richmond Heights: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Rollingwood 2 mi · El Cerrito 2 mi · San Pablo 2 mi · El Sobrante 2 mi · Richmond 3 mi · Kensington 3 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 Richmond Heights (37.9451, -122.3139); 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.