community in Illinois
Honey bee forage in Arbury Hills, Illinois
Estimated forage here is better than about 6% of sites in Illinois. Against other Illinois sites it stands out most in fall (96th percentile) and lowest in summer (8th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.3 mi SW, grown 4 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.5 mi SE, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Arbury Hills?
- First forage: Mar 1 (dandelion)
- Main flow: Apr 1 to Aug 15, peaking early May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans)
- Fall flow: Sep 1 to Sep 15 (garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Arbury Hills, 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 May 2.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, soybeans; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, soybeans; 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
- Soybeans: about 63 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi NE, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 5 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 32 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.5 mi SE, blooms early Jul – early Aug (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 Arbury Hills
Mostly: Developed, medium intensity; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.23 mi SE; pond, lake or river 0.3 mi E.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 89% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Arbury Hills ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 75th | 72nd | 77th | 71st |
| Illinois | 6th | 85th | 8th | 96th |
| Central Corn Belt Plains | 5th | 93rd | 5th | 94th |
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 Arbury Hills: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Mokena 2 mi · Frankfort 2 mi · Frankfort Square 2 mi · Tinley Park 3 mi · Orland Hills 4 mi · Marley 4 mi
All towns in Illinois · 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 Arbury Hills (41.5353, -87.8461); 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.