community in California
Honey bee forage in Lucas Valley-Marinwood, California
Estimated forage here is better than about 82% of sites in California. Against other California sites it stands out most in spring (80th percentile) and lowest in summer (56th). Biggest nearby bee crops: safflower (nearest 3.2 mi E, grown 1 of the last 5 years); grapes (nearest 3.4 mi W).
When is the honey flow in Lucas Valley-Marinwood?
- First forage: Jan 1 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion)
- Main flow: Feb 1 to May 15, peaking early Mar (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), summer-flowering shrubs)
- Fall flow: Jun 1 to Jun 15 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Lucas Valley-Marinwood, 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), summer-flowering shrubs, clovers: white, alsike and red, huckleberries; 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, dandelion; 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), summer-flowering shrubs, clovers: white, alsike and red, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); 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
- Safflower: about 56 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.2 mi E, blooms early May – early Jun (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Grapes: about 6 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.4 mi W, blooms early Apr – 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 Lucas Valley-Marinwood
Mostly: Mediterranean California Mixed Evergreen Forest; California Ruderal Grassland and Meadow; Developed, medium intensity.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.04 mi N; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.19 mi W.
How Lucas Valley-Marinwood ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 87th | 97th | 31st | 41st |
| California | 82nd | 80th | 56th | 75th |
| Central California Foothills and Coastal Mountains | 51st | 45th | 41st | 53rd |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 76% 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 Lucas Valley-Marinwood: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Sleepy Hollow 2 mi · Novato 3 mi · Fairfax 4 mi · San Anselmo 4 mi · Woodacre 4 mi · Santa Venetia 5 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 Lucas Valley-Marinwood (38.0405, -122.5765); 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.