community in California
Honey bee forage in Lemon Hill, California
Estimated forage here is better than about 70% of sites in California. Against other California sites it stands out most in fall (76th percentile) and lowest in spring (55th). Biggest nearby bee crops: almonds (nearest 3.3 mi SW); clover and wildflowers (nearest 3.2 mi S, grown 1 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 3.4 mi NE, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Lemon Hill?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, maples)
- Main flow: Feb 1 to Apr 30, peaking early Mar (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jun 1 to Jul 15 (garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Lemon Hill, 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): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, summer-flowering shrubs; 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
- 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
- Almonds: about 11 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.3 mi SW, blooms early Feb – late Mar
- Clover and wildflowers: about 2 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.2 mi S, blooms early Mar – early Jul (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 5 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.4 mi NE, blooms late Apr – early Jun (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Safflower: about 24 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.7 mi S, blooms early May – early Jun (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 Lemon Hill
Mostly: Developed, medium intensity; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, high intensity (paved).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.42 mi SW; creek, wetland or wet meadow 1.45 mi SW.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 98% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Lemon Hill ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 73rd | 82nd | 35th | 41st |
| California | 70th | 55th | 61st | 76th |
| Central California Valley | 25th | 23rd | 66th | 88th |
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 Lemon Hill: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Fruitridge Pocket 1 mi · Parkway 1 mi · Sacramento 4 mi · Florin 4 mi · Freeport 4 mi · West Sacramento 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 Lemon Hill (38.5172, -121.4573); 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.