community in California
Honey bee forage in Lake San Marcos, California
Estimated forage here is better than about 69% of sites in California. Against other California sites it stands out most in fall (72nd percentile) and lowest in spring (48th). Biggest nearby bee crops: citrus (nearest 3.1 mi S).
When is the honey flow in Lake San Marcos?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jan 16 to Apr 15, peaking early Feb (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jun 1 to Jun 30 (garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Dec 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Lake San Marcos, 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 12.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs, garden flowers; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; extra 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): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, summer-flowering shrubs; 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
- Citrus: about 6 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.1 mi S, blooms early Mar – 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 Lake San Marcos
Mostly: Developed, medium intensity; Southern California Coastal Scrub; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.02 mi E; open water 0.04 mi E.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 80% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Lake San Marcos ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 73rd | 72nd | 26th | 38th |
| California | 69th | 48th | 50th | 72nd |
| Southern California/Northern Baja Coast | 40th | 22nd | 75th | 71st |
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 Lake San Marcos: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
San Marcos 2 mi · Elfin Forest 3 mi · Harmony Grove 4 mi · Carlsbad 4 mi · Vista 5 mi · Encinitas 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 Lake San Marcos (33.1224, -117.2086); 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.