community in Indiana
Honey bee forage in Hudson Lake, Indiana
Estimated forage here is better than about 19% of sites in Indiana. Against other Indiana sites it stands out most in fall (87th percentile) and lowest in summer (31st). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.2 mi S, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.3 mi SW, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Hudson Lake?
- 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 Hudson Lake, 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): soybeans, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, 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, alfalfa; white, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- 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 938 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi SW, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 697 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi SW, 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 Hudson Lake
Mostly: North-Central Interior Beech-Maple Forest; Corn; Soybeans.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0 mi S; open water 0 mi S.
How Hudson Lake ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 81st | 55th | 87th | 48th |
| Indiana | 19th | 56th | 31st | 87th |
| Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains | 40th | 48th | 50th | 33rd |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 32% 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 Hudson Lake: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Saugany Lake 2 mi · New Carlisle 2 mi · Rolling Prairie 4 mi · Chain-O-Lakes 8 mi · Fish Lake 11 mi · La Porte 11 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 Hudson Lake (41.7115, -86.5507); 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.