community in California
Honey bee forage in Harbison Canyon, California
Estimated forage here is better than about 72% of sites in California. Against other California sites it stands out most in spring (63rd percentile) and lowest in fall (27th). Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer), less than 0.1 mi away.
When is the honey flow in Harbison Canyon?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, spring-flowering shrubs)
- Main flow: Feb 1 to Apr 15, peaking late Feb (spring-flowering shrubs, summer-flowering shrubs, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Jul 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Harbison Canyon, 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 18.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): spring-flowering shrubs, summer-flowering shrubs, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); amber
- Whole season (March to November): spring-flowering shrubs, summer-flowering shrubs, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; 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
No rated bee crops within about 3.7 miles of the town center. The forage here is wild plants, trees and gardens.
The land and water around Harbison Canyon
Mostly: Southern California Dry-Mesic Chaparral; Southern California Coastal Scrub; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.03 mi SW; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.11 mi W.
How Harbison Canyon ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 76th | 90th | 10th | 10th |
| California | 72nd | 63rd | 32nd | 27th |
| Southern California/Northern Baja Coast | 49th | 61st | 32nd | 14th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 75% 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 Harbison Canyon: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Crest 3 mi · Granite Hills 4 mi · Lakeside 4 mi · Alpine 5 mi · Winter Gardens 5 mi · Bostonia 6 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 Harbison Canyon (32.8273, -116.8381); 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.