city in Illinois
Honey bee forage in Braidwood, Illinois
Estimated forage here is better than about 34% of sites in Illinois. Against other Illinois sites it stands out most in fall (97th percentile) and lowest in summer (15th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.5 mi NW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.5 mi NW, grown 4 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Braidwood?
- First forage: Mar 1 (dandelion)
- Main flow: Apr 1 to Aug 15, peaking early Jul (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Braidwood, 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): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- 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, soybeans, 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
- Soybeans: about 149 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.7 mi N, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 2,221 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.2 mi W, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 4 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 Braidwood
Mostly: North-Central Interior Dry Oak Forest and Woodland; Open water; Corn.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.13 mi NE; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.41 mi NE.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 73% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Braidwood ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 88th | 86th | 85th | 72nd |
| Illinois | 34th | 95th | 15th | 97th |
| Central Corn Belt Plains | 26th | 99th | 11th | 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 Braidwood: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Diamond 2 mi · Godley 2 mi · Coal City 3 mi · Braceville 4 mi · Lakewood Shores 4 mi · Carbon Hill 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 Braidwood (41.2702, -88.2234); 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.