community in California
Honey bee forage in Lake Hughes, California
Estimated forage here is better than about 71% of sites in California. Against other California sites it stands out most in spring (81st percentile) and lowest in fall (26th). Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer), 0.43 mi N.
When is the honey flow in Lake Hughes?
- First forage: Feb 1 (spring-flowering shrubs, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion)
- Main flow: Mar 1 to May 15, peaking late Mar (spring-flowering shrubs, summer-flowering shrubs, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Season ends: Aug 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Lake Hughes, 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 15.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): spring-flowering shrubs, summer-flowering shrubs, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- 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): spring-flowering shrubs, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), summer-flowering shrubs, clovers: white, alsike and red; 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 Lake Hughes
Mostly: Southern California Dry-Mesic Chaparral; Southern California Coastal Scrub; California Ruderal Grassland and Meadow.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.43 mi N; pond, lake or river 0.47 mi SE.
How Lake Hughes ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 74th | 97th | 19th | 10th |
| California | 71st | 81st | 43rd | 26th |
| Southern California Mountains | 89th | 91st | 62nd | 46th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 89% 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 Lake Hughes: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Elizabeth Lake 4 mi · Green Valley 5 mi · Leona Valley 10 mi · Quartz Hill 14 mi · Agua Dulce 15 mi · Lancaster 16 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 Lake Hughes (34.6824, -118.4519); 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.