city in Michigan
Honey bee forage in Manistique, Michigan
Estimated forage here is better than about 15% of sites in Michigan. Against other Michigan sites it stands out most in fall (87th percentile) and lowest in spring (15th). Biggest nearby bee crops: alfalfa (nearest 2.2 mi N, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 1.9 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Manistique?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: May 1 to Jul 31, peaking early Jun (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Fall flow: Aug 16 to Sep 15 (garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Manistique, 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 Jun 1.
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): clovers: white, alsike and red, summer-flowering shrubs, garden flowers, dandelion; 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, garden flowers, 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
- Alfalfa: about 229 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.2 mi N, blooms early Jul – late Sep (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 4 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.9 mi N, blooms early Aug – early Sep (grown 1 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 Manistique
Mostly: Open water; Laurentian-Acadian Alkaline Conifer-Hardwood Swamp; Great Lakes Wooded Dune and Swale.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.04 mi NW; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.04 mi NW.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 63% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Manistique ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 44th | 39th | 67th | 77th |
| Michigan | 15th | 15th | 35th | 87th |
| Northern Lakes and Forests | 27th | 8th | 60th | 96th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 43% 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 Manistique: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Garden 20 mi · Rapid River 35 mi · Munising 37 mi · St. James 38 mi · Gladstone 38 mi · Naubinway 39 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 Manistique (45.9597, -86.251); 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.