city in California
Honey bee forage in Monterey, California
Estimated forage here is better than about 69% of sites in California. Against other California sites it stands out most in fall (79th percentile) and lowest in spring (50th). Biggest nearby bee crops: grapes (nearest 3.4 mi W).
When is the honey flow in Monterey?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, maples)
- Main flow: Jan 16 to Apr 30, peaking late Feb (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jun 1 to Jul 15 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Monterey, 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 21.
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, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); 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, 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
- Grapes: about 1 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.4 mi W, blooms late Mar – 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 Monterey
Mostly: Open water; California Coastal Live Oak Woodland and Savanna; Developed, medium intensity.
Nearest mapped water: open water 0.04 mi N; pond, lake or river 0.09 mi N.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 84% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Monterey ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 72nd | 75th | 29th | 44th |
| California | 69th | 50th | 54th | 79th |
| Central California Foothills and Coastal Mountains | 22nd | 3rd | 38th | 60th |
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 Monterey: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Sand City 2 mi · Pacific Grove 3 mi · Del Rey Oaks 3 mi · Del Monte Forest 4 mi · Carmel-by-the-Sea 4 mi · Seaside 4 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 Monterey (36.6012, -121.8831); 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.