community in California
Honey bee forage in Elmira, California
Estimated forage here is better than about 92% of sites in California. Against other California sites it stands out most in spring (91st percentile) and lowest in fall (24th). Biggest nearby bee crops: almonds (right here); clover and wildflowers (nearest 0.6 mi E, grown 3 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.4 mi N).
When is the honey flow in Elmira?
- First forage: Jan 16 (almonds, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Feb 16 to Mar 15, peaking early Mar (almonds)
- Fall flow: Apr 16 to Jun 30 (alfalfa, sunflower, clover/Wildflowers)
- Season ends: Jul 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Elmira, 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): alfalfa, clover/Wildflowers, sunflower, almonds; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clover/Wildflowers, 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): alfalfa, clover/Wildflowers, sunflower, almonds; extra 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
- Almonds: about 151 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi S, blooms early Feb – late Mar
- Clover and wildflowers: about 70 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi E, blooms early Mar – early Jul (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
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 Elmira
Mostly: Almonds; Developed, medium intensity; Western Warm Temperate Pasture and Hayland.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.03 mi SW; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.11 mi E.
How Elmira ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 98th | 99th | 59th | 8th |
| California | 92nd | 91st | 85th | 24th |
| Central California Valley | 63rd | 69th | 89th | 60th |
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 Elmira: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Vacaville 3 mi · Hartley 5 mi · Allendale 7 mi · Dixon 8 mi · Suisun City 9 mi · Fairfield 9 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 Elmira (38.3523, -121.9077); 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.