community in California
Honey bee forage in Elizabeth Lake, California
Estimated forage here is better than about 82% of sites in California. Against other California sites it stands out most in spring (88th percentile) and lowest in fall (42nd). Biggest nearby bee crops: apples (nearest 3.4 mi NE); alfalfa (nearest 3.5 mi NE, grown 1 of the last 5 years); peaches (nearest 3.3 mi NE).
When is the honey flow in Elizabeth Lake?
- First forage: Jan 16 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion)
- Main flow: Mar 1 to May 15, peaking late Mar (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), spring-flowering shrubs)
- Season ends: Aug 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Elizabeth Lake, 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 13.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), spring-flowering shrubs, summer-flowering shrubs, 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), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers; amber
- Whole season (March to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), spring-flowering shrubs, summer-flowering shrubs, 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
- Apples: about 21 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.4 mi NE, blooms early Mar – late Mar
- Alfalfa: about 7 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.5 mi NE, blooms early May – late Jun (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Peaches: about 1 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.3 mi NE, blooms late Feb – early 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 Elizabeth Lake
Mostly: Southern California Dry-Mesic Chaparral; North American Warm Desert Ruderal & Planted Grassland; California Ruderal Grassland and Meadow.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.11 mi SE; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.17 mi E.
How Elizabeth Lake ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 87th | 98th | 33rd | 20th |
| California | 82nd | 88th | 59th | 42nd |
| Southern California Mountains | 97th | 97th | 77th | 68th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 83% 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 Elizabeth Lake: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Green Valley 3 mi · Lake Hughes 4 mi · Leona Valley 6 mi · Quartz Hill 9 mi · Agua Dulce 11 mi · Lancaster 12 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 Elizabeth Lake (34.6565, -118.3798); 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.