community in California

Honey bee forage in Olde Stockdale, California

Estimated forage here is better than about 81% of sites in California. Against other California sites it stands out most in fall (73rd percentile) and lowest in summer (60th). Biggest nearby bee crops: citrus (nearest 0.2 mi NE); almonds (nearest 1.0 mi W); alfalfa (nearest 1.0 mi W, grown 3 of the last 5 years).

When is the honey flow in Olde Stockdale?

  • First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, maples, clovers: white, alsike and red)
  • Main flow: Feb 1 to Apr 30, peaking early Mar (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, citrus)
  • Fall flow: Jun 1 to Jun 15 (garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
  • Season ends: Sep 30
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Olde Stockdale, 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 26.

What the honey is made of

  • Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, citrus, garden flowers; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
  • Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
  • Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers
  • Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, citrus, garden flowers; 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

  • Citrus: about 2 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi NE, blooms late Mar – early May
  • Almonds: about 11 acres in a typical year, nearest 1 mi W, blooms early Feb – early Mar
  • Alfalfa: about 11 acres in a typical year, nearest 1 mi W, blooms late Apr – early Jun (grown 3 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 Olde Stockdale

Mostly: Developed, medium intensity; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, high intensity (paved).

Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.27 mi SW; open water 0.45 mi N.

Things to watch

  • Heavily developed. About 96% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
  • Bee crops nearby that are often sprayed. Citrus: grapefruit: insecticides used on about 63% of surveyed US acres (2025); Citrus: lemons: insecticides used on about 75% of surveyed US acres (2025); Citrus: tangerines: insecticides used on about 82% of surveyed US acres (2025). Figures are from USDA's Agricultural Chemical Use Survey, matched by crop type from the crop map. The survey counts any insecticide use in the crop year (not seed treatments) and doesn't say when; ask nearby growers about spray timing.

How Olde Stockdale ranks

Against random land inOverallSpringSummerFall
Continental US86th95th34th39th
California81st71st60th73rd
Central California Valley40th41st65th87th

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 Olde Stockdale: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.

Nearby

Old Stine 2 mi · Bakersfield 2 mi · Benton Park 3 mi · Greenacres 3 mi · Casa Loma 5 mi · Cottonwood 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 Olde Stockdale (35.3476, -119.0794); 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.