village in Michigan
Honey bee forage in Athens, Michigan
Estimated forage here is better than about 94% of sites in Michigan. Against other Michigan sites it stands out most in summer (87th percentile) and lowest in fall (51st). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.3 mi E, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.3 mi E, grown 2 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.3 mi W, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Athens?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jun 16 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (soybeans)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Athens, 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 7.
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, alfalfa; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, 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 2,867 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi E, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 4,247 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi E, 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 Athens
Mostly: Corn; Soybeans; North-Central Interior and Appalachian Rich Swamp.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.22 mi NW; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.22 mi N.
How Athens ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 90th | 64th | 91st | 52nd |
| Michigan | 94th | 52nd | 87th | 51st |
| Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains | 87th | 66th | 69th | 40th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 33% 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 Athens: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Union City 5 mi · Sherwood 6 mi · Burlington 8 mi · Colon 10 mi · Climax 12 mi · Scotts 12 mi
All towns in Michigan · 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 Athens (42.087, -85.2348); 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.