community in Illinois
Honey bee forage in Prestbury, Illinois
Estimated forage here is better than about 39% of sites in Illinois. Against other Illinois sites it stands out most in fall (96th percentile) and lowest in summer (18th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.8 mi S, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.8 mi S, grown 2 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 1.6 mi NE).
When is the honey flow in Prestbury?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Aug 15, peaking early Jul (clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Prestbury, 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): 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): clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, 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, soybeans, dandelion, 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 1,910 acres in a typical year, nearest 1 mi N, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 2,342 acres in a typical year, nearest 1 mi N, blooms early Jul – early 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 Prestbury
Mostly: Soybeans; Corn; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.08 mi E; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.15 mi E.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 70% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Prestbury ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 89th | 82nd | 87th | 72nd |
| Illinois | 39th | 93rd | 18th | 96th |
| Central Corn Belt Plains | 31st | 98th | 12th | 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 Prestbury: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Sugar Grove 1 mi · North Aurora 5 mi · Big Rock 5 mi · Montgomery 6 mi · Kaneville 6 mi · Boulder Hill 7 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 Prestbury (41.786, -88.424); 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.