community in California
Honey bee forage in Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, California
Estimated forage here is better than about 81% of sites in California. Against other California sites it stands out most in fall (77th percentile) and lowest in summer (54th). Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer), less than 0.1 mi away.
When is the honey flow in Tamalpais-Homestead Valley?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, maples, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jan 16 to Apr 15, peaking early Mar (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Fall flow: May 1 to May 15 (clovers: white, alsike and red, summer-flowering shrubs, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, 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 24.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- 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, summer-flowering shrubs, garden flowers; extra light 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 Tamalpais-Homestead Valley
Mostly: Open water; Northern California Coastal Scrub; Mediterranean California Mixed Evergreen Forest.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.02 mi S; pond, lake or river 0.58 mi E.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 61% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Tamalpais-Homestead Valley ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 86th | 94th | 29th | 42nd |
| California | 81st | 70th | 54th | 77th |
| Central California Foothills and Coastal Mountains | 50th | 23rd | 38th | 55th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 45% of the land here is scored with national averages for its vegetation type rather than measured plant cover, so the wild-plant part of this estimate is rougher than the crop part.
The national forage map around Tamalpais-Homestead Valley: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Marin City 1 mi · Strawberry 2 mi · Mill Valley 2 mi · Alto 2 mi · Muir Beach 3 mi · Sausalito 3 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 Tamalpais-Homestead Valley (37.8791, -122.5379); 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.