community in California
Honey bee forage in Tobin, California
Estimated forage here is better than about 76% of sites in California. Against other California sites it stands out most in spring (86th percentile) and lowest in fall (25th). Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer), 0.12 mi NW.
When is the honey flow in Tobin?
- First forage: Feb 16 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Apr 1 to May 31, peaking early Apr (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), spring-flowering shrubs)
- Season ends: Aug 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Tobin, 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 Apr 7.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), spring-flowering shrubs, summer-flowering shrubs, snowberry; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), summer-flowering shrubs, snowberry, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); amber
- Whole season (March to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), spring-flowering shrubs, summer-flowering shrubs, snowberry; 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
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 Tobin
Mostly: Mediterranean California Mesic Mixed Conifer Forest and Woodland; Northern and Central California Dry-Mesic Chaparral; California Montane Woodland and Chaparral.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.12 mi NW; pond, lake or river 0.72 mi NW.
How Tobin ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 80th | 98th | 40th | 9th |
| California | 76th | 86th | 67th | 25th |
| Sierra Nevada | 96th | 99th | 40th | 20th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 98% 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 Tobin: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Belden 6 mi · Bucks Lake 6 mi · Meadow Valley 11 mi · Caribou 12 mi · Stirling City 13 mi · Twain 15 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 Tobin (39.9358, -121.2965); 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.