city in California
Honey bee forage in Irwindale, California
Estimated forage here is better than about 57% of sites in California. Against other California sites it stands out most in fall (55th percentile) and lowest in summer (38th). Biggest nearby bee crops: citrus (nearest 3.7 mi N).
When is the honey flow in Irwindale?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), maples)
- Main flow: Jan 1 to Apr 15, peaking late Feb (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, spring-flowering shrubs)
- Season ends: Dec 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Irwindale, 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 7.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, summer-flowering shrubs, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, canada thistle, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); amber
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); amber
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, summer-flowering shrubs, dandelion; 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
- Citrus: about 1 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.7 mi N, 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 Irwindale
Mostly: Developed, medium intensity; Developed, high intensity (paved); Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0 mi S; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.29 mi NW.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 63% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Irwindale ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 59th | 59th | 15th | 27th |
| California | 57th | 41st | 38th | 55th |
| Southern California/Northern Baja Coast | 14th | 11th | 45th | 48th |
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 Irwindale: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
South Monrovia Island 2 mi · Baldwin Park 2 mi · Vincent 2 mi · Mayflower Village 3 mi · Bradbury 3 mi · Azusa 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 Irwindale (34.1119, -117.9636); 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.