community in Indiana
Honey bee forage in Chain-O-Lakes, Indiana
Estimated forage here is better than about 40% of sites in Indiana. Against other Indiana sites it stands out most in fall (93rd percentile) and lowest in summer (36th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (right here, grown 4 of the last 5 years); corn (right here, grown 4 of the last 5 years); mint (nearest 1.0 mi SW, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Chain-O-Lakes?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Jun 16 to Aug 15, peaking early Jul (soybeans)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Chain-O-Lakes, 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, early trees (maple, willow, poplar); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red; white, 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, 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
- Soybeans: about 2,449 acres in a typical year, nearest 0 mi , blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 4 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 4,784 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi N, blooms early Jul – early 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 Chain-O-Lakes
Mostly: Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns); Corn; Soybeans.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.06 mi N; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.12 mi NW.
How Chain-O-Lakes ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 88th | 65th | 89th | 56th |
| Indiana | 40th | 64th | 36th | 93rd |
| Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains | 75th | 67th | 59th | 47th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 30% 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 Chain-O-Lakes: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Ardmore 3 mi · New Carlisle 6 mi · South Bend 7 mi · Roseland 7 mi · Notre Dame 8 mi · Indian Village 8 mi
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 Chain-O-Lakes (41.7071, -86.3883); 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.