community in California
Honey bee forage in El Modena, California
Estimated forage here is better than about 72% of sites in California. Against other California sites it stands out most in fall (78th percentile) and lowest in spring (46th). Biggest nearby bee crops: citrus (nearest 3.7 mi SE).
When is the honey flow in El Modena?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, maples, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jan 1 to Apr 15, peaking late Feb (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jun 1 to Jun 30 (garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Dec 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of El Modena, 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 10.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; 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, garden flowers, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs; 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
- Citrus: about 7 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.7 mi SE, blooms late Feb – 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 El Modena
Mostly: Developed, medium intensity; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Southern California Coastal Scrub.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.43 mi SE; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.5 mi SE.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 87% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How El Modena ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 75th | 68th | 29th | 43rd |
| California | 72nd | 46th | 53rd | 78th |
| Southern California/Northern Baja Coast | 46th | 17th | 84th | 86th |
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 El Modena: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Orange Park Acres 2 mi · Villa Park 2 mi · North Tustin 2 mi · Orange 3 mi · Tustin 4 mi · Anaheim 5 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 El Modena (33.792, -117.8047); 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.