village in Illinois
Honey bee forage in Timberlane, Illinois
Estimated forage here is better than about 45% of sites in Illinois. Against other Illinois sites it stands out most in fall (96th percentile) and lowest in summer (25th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 0.4 mi SW, grown 3 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 0.4 mi SW, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Timberlane?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: May 1 to Aug 31, peaking early Jul (soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Timberlane, 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 8.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, 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, dandelion, garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, 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
- Corn: about 5,092 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi SW, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 230 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi SW, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 2 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 Timberlane
Mostly: Corn; Soybeans; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.26 mi NE; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.27 mi NE.
How Timberlane ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 91st | 76th | 89th | 69th |
| Illinois | 45th | 88th | 25th | 96th |
| Southeastern Wisconsin Till Plains | 99th | 95th | 63rd | 47th |
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 Timberlane: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Candlewick Lake 1 mi · Poplar Grove 2 mi · Caledonia 3 mi · Argyle 4 mi · Belvidere 5 mi · Loves Park 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 Timberlane (42.3357, -88.8661); 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.