community in Illinois
Honey bee forage in Lost Nation, Illinois
Estimated forage here is better than about 14% of sites in Illinois. Against other Illinois sites it stands out most in fall (95th percentile) and lowest in summer (12th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 0.3 mi W, grown 2 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 0.3 mi W, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Lost Nation?
- First forage: Mar 1 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Apr 1 to Aug 15, peaking early May (clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Lost Nation, 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 5.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), soybeans; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar); 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
- Corn: about 5,322 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.2 mi N, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 1,260 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.2 mi NE, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 1 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 Lost Nation
Mostly: North-Central Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest and Woodland; Soybeans; Corn.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.27 mi E; open water 0.27 mi E.
How Lost Nation ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 82nd | 78th | 82nd | 65th |
| Illinois | 14th | 90th | 12th | 95th |
| Central Corn Belt Plains | 11th | 96th | 9th | 91st |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 54% 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 Lost Nation: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Grand Detour 2 mi · Nachusa 5 mi · Franklin Grove 6 mi · Oregon 7 mi · Dixon 7 mi · Ashton 8 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 Lost Nation (41.912, -89.3685); 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.