community in California
Honey bee forage in Rio Linda, California
Estimated forage here is better than about 85% of sites in California. Against other California sites it stands out most in fall (80th percentile) and lowest in summer (70th). Biggest nearby bee crops: almonds (nearest 2.5 mi NW); clover and wildflowers (nearest 2.3 mi SW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 2.2 mi SW, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Rio Linda?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Feb 1 to Apr 30, peaking early Mar (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Fall flow: Jun 1 to Jun 30 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Rio Linda, 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, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, 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); light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); amber
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, 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
- Almonds: about 3 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.5 mi NW, blooms early Feb – late Mar
- Clover and wildflowers: about 2 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.3 mi SW, blooms early Mar – early Jul (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 4 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.3 mi SW, 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 Rio Linda
Mostly: Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns); Developed, medium intensity; California Ruderal Grassland and Meadow.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.04 mi E; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.05 mi SE.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 74% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Rio Linda ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 90th | 97th | 44th | 45th |
| California | 85th | 78th | 70th | 80th |
| Central California Valley | 48th | 47th | 78th | 89th |
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 Rio Linda: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Elverta 2 mi · McClellan Park 3 mi · North Highlands 4 mi · Antelope 5 mi · Foothill Farms 5 mi · Arden-Arcade 7 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 Rio Linda (38.6875, -121.4417); 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.