community in California
Honey bee forage in Williams Canyon, California
Estimated forage here is better than about 71% of sites in California. Against other California sites it stands out most in spring (59th percentile) and lowest in summer (20th). Expect a dearth in late Jun.
When is the honey flow in Williams Canyon?
- First forage: Jan 1 (spring-flowering shrubs, dandelion, native wildflowers)
- Main flow: Feb 1 to Apr 15, peaking late Feb (spring-flowering shrubs, summer-flowering shrubs)
- Dearth: Jun 16 to Jun 30
- Season ends: Jun 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Williams Canyon, 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 10.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): spring-flowering shrubs, summer-flowering shrubs, citrus, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); light amber, likely to stay liquid a long time
- Summer honey (July and August): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion; amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers; amber
- Whole season (March to November): spring-flowering shrubs, summer-flowering shrubs, citrus, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); light amber, likely to stay liquid a long time
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 Williams Canyon
Mostly: Southern California Dry-Mesic Chaparral; Southern California Coastal Scrub; California Coastal Live Oak Woodland and Savanna.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.06 mi S; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.19 mi NW.
How Williams Canyon ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 75th | 86th | 4th | 15th |
| California | 71st | 59th | 20th | 34th |
| Southern California/Northern Baja Coast | 45th | 49th | 7th | 24th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 91% 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 Williams Canyon: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Silverado 1 mi · Modjeska 1 mi · Trabuco Canyon 4 mi · Lake Forest 6 mi · Rancho Santa Margarita 7 mi · Mission Viejo 8 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 Williams Canyon (33.7289, -117.6394); 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.