community in California
Honey bee forage in Trowbridge, California
Estimated forage here is better than about 37% of sites in California. Against other California sites it ranks highest in spring (43rd percentile) and lowest in fall (5th). Biggest nearby bee crops: almonds (nearest 1.2 mi NW); alfalfa (right here, grown 4 of the last 5 years); clover and wildflowers (nearest 2.1 mi N, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Trowbridge?
- First forage: Jan 16 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, almonds)
- Main flow: Feb 1 to Mar 31, peaking early Mar (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), almonds, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Apr 16 to Jun 30 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), alfalfa)
- Season ends: Jul 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Trowbridge, 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 3.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), alfalfa, clover/Wildflowers, clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; extra 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): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), alfalfa, clover/Wildflowers, clovers: white, alsike and red; 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 440 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.6 mi W, blooms early Feb – late Mar
- Alfalfa: about 115 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi NW, blooms late Apr – late 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 Trowbridge
Mostly: Rice; Walnuts; Almonds.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.02 mi W; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.19 mi NW.
Things to watch
- Lots of crops with little or no bee value. About 40% of the land within 3 miles is in crops bees get little from (such as wheat and other grains).
How Trowbridge ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 32nd | 63rd | 16th | 1st |
| California | 37th | 43rd | 39th | 5th |
| Central California Valley | 6th | 9th | 34th | 22nd |
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 Trowbridge: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
East Nicolaus 2 mi · Rio Oso 2 mi · Nicolaus 4 mi · Plumas Lake 4 mi · Sheridan 9 mi · Wheatland 10 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 Trowbridge (38.9264, -121.5148); 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.