city in Illinois
Honey bee forage in Zion, Illinois
Estimated forage here is better than about 17% of sites in Illinois. Against other Illinois sites it stands out most in fall (100th percentile) and lowest in summer (12th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 0.6 mi NE, grown 3 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 0.6 mi NE, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Zion?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion)
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Aug 15, peaking late May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Sep 1 to Sep 30 (garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Zion, 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 15.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, dandelion, soybeans; 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): 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
- Corn: about 27 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi NE, blooms late Jul – late Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 12 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi NE, blooms early Jul – early Sep (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 Zion
Mostly: Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Open water; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.26 mi W; pond, lake or river 0.3 mi NW.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 78% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Zion ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 83rd | 74th | 82nd | 91st |
| Illinois | 17th | 87th | 12th | 100th |
| Central Corn Belt Plains | 12th | 94th | 9th | 100th |
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 Zion: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Beach Park 2 mi · Winthrop Harbor 2 mi · Wadsworth 4 mi · Waukegan 6 mi · Old Mill Creek 7 mi · Gurnee 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 Zion (42.4599, -87.8511); 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.