community in California
Honey bee forage in McClellan Park, California
Estimated forage here is better than about 77% of sites in California. Spring, summer and fall all rank about the same against other California sites. Biggest nearby bee crops: almonds (nearest 2.0 mi SE); alfalfa (nearest 3.6 mi W, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in McClellan Park?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion)
- Main flow: Feb 1 to Apr 30, peaking early Mar (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jun 1 to Jun 30 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of McClellan Park, 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, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), garden flowers; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); 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, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); 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 1 acres in a typical year, nearest 2 mi SE, blooms early Feb – late Mar
- Alfalfa: about 2 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.6 mi W, blooms late Apr – early Jun (grown 1 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 McClellan Park
Mostly: Developed, medium intensity; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns); Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: open water 0.24 mi S; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.47 mi W.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 93% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How McClellan Park ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 81st | 91st | 36th | 36th |
| California | 77th | 64th | 62nd | 71st |
| Central California Valley | 35th | 33rd | 68th | 85th |
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 McClellan Park: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
North Highlands 2 mi · Rio Linda 3 mi · Foothill Farms 3 mi · Antelope 4 mi · Arden-Arcade 4 mi · Elverta 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 McClellan Park (38.6629, -121.4017); 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.