city in Kentucky
Honey bee forage in Shively, Kentucky
Estimated forage here is better than about 70% of sites in Kentucky. Against other Kentucky sites it stands out most in spring (94th percentile) and lowest in summer (60th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 2.7 mi NW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 2.8 mi NW, grown 3 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 1.4 mi S, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Shively?
- First forage: Feb 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Apr 1 to Jun 15, peaking early Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jul 1 to Aug 31 (garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Shively, 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 Apr 8.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; 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 235 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.8 mi NW, blooms late May – late Jul (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 67 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.8 mi NW, blooms early Jun – early Jul (grown 3 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 Shively
Mostly: Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, medium intensity; Developed, high intensity (paved).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.2 mi W; pond, lake or river 0.62 mi N.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 98% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Shively ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 79th | 95th | 63rd | 48th |
| Kentucky | 70th | 94th | 60th | 93rd |
| Interior Plateau | 69th | 88th | 60th | 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 Shively: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Parkway Village 4 mi · Louisville 4 mi · Audubon Park 5 mi · Lynnview 6 mi · Poplar Hills 7 mi · Watterson Park 7 mi
All towns in Kentucky · 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 Shively (38.1988, -85.8139); 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.