community in California
Honey bee forage in Mono City, California
Estimated forage here is better than about 28% of sites in California. Against other California sites it stands out most in fall (98th percentile) and lowest in spring (26th). Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer), 0.28 mi SW.
When is the honey flow in Mono City?
- First forage: Mar 16 (weedy mustards, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Oct 15, peaking early Aug (native wildflowers, green/yellow rabbitbrush, rubber rabbitbrush)
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Mono City, 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 May 22.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): native wildflowers, weedy mustards, dandelion, arrowleaf balsamroot; extra light amber, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Summer honey (July and August): native wildflowers, green/yellow rabbitbrush, rubber rabbitbrush, spotted and diffuse knapweed; amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): green/yellow rabbitbrush, rubber rabbitbrush, spotted and diffuse knapweed, rabbitbrush; dark amber
- Whole season (March to November): native wildflowers, green/yellow rabbitbrush, rubber rabbitbrush, weedy mustards; amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
Nectar-source estimate (plants weighted by how much bees favor them), not a pollen analysis. Full honey estimate.
Bee crops within flight range
No rated bee crops within about 3.7 miles of the town center. The forage here is wild plants, trees and gardens.
The land and water around Mono City
Mostly: Inter-Mountain Basins Big Sagebrush Shrubland; Open water; Inter-Mountain Basins Montane Sagebrush Steppe.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.28 mi SW; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.51 mi N.
How Mono City ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 15th | 22nd | 36th | 80th |
| California | 28th | 26th | 62nd | 98th |
| Central Basin and Range | 67th | 71st | 64th | 69th |
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 Mono City: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Lee Vining 6 mi · Virginia Lakes 6 mi · Twin Lakes 14 mi · Bridgeport 16 mi · June Lake 19 mi · Mammoth Lakes 29 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 Mono City (38.0321, -119.1474); 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.