community in California
Honey bee forage in Lost Hills, California
Estimated forage here is better than about 87% of sites in California. Against other California sites it stands out most in spring (77th percentile) and lowest in summer (46th). Biggest nearby bee crops: almonds (nearest 0.1 mi S); alfalfa (nearest 1.9 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Lost Hills?
- First forage: Jan 16 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), almonds)
- Main flow: Feb 1 to Mar 15, peaking early Mar (almonds, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Season ends: Jul 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Lost Hills, 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 28.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), almonds, summer-flowering trees (locust, linden); extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers; 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): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), almonds, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), summer-flowering trees (locust, linden); 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 317 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi S, blooms early Feb – early Mar
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 Lost Hills
Mostly: California Central Valley and Southern Coastal Grassland; Almonds; California Ruderal Scrub.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.19 mi SW; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.38 mi NE.
How Lost Hills ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 93rd | 97th | 22nd | 36th |
| California | 87th | 77th | 46th | 70th |
| Central California Valley | 52nd | 46th | 44th | 85th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 35% 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 Lost Hills: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Wasco 18 mi · Buttonwillow 20 mi · Alpaugh 21 mi · Allensworth 22 mi · McKittrick 23 mi · Smith Corner 25 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 Lost Hills (35.6327, -119.6779); 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.