city in Michigan
Honey bee forage in Clio, Michigan
Estimated forage here is better than about 77% of sites in Michigan. Against other Michigan sites it stands out most in fall (87th percentile) and lowest in summer (69th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.6 mi SE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.7 mi SE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 1.1 mi N).
When is the honey flow in Clio?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Aug 31, peaking early May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Clio, 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 11.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), garden flowers; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers; 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, soybeans, garden flowers; 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 46 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi SE, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 254 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.1 mi E, blooms early Jul – early Aug (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 Clio
Mostly: North-Central Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest and Woodland; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.12 mi E; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.19 mi SE.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 71% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Clio ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 83rd | 76th | 82nd | 78th |
| Michigan | 77th | 81st | 69th | 87th |
| Huron/Erie Lake Plains | 28th | 92nd | 19th | 73rd |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 31% 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 Clio: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Mount Morris 4 mi · Birch Run 6 mi · Beecher 6 mi · Montrose 8 mi · Burt 9 mi · Flushing 10 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 Clio (43.177, -83.7356); 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.