village in Michigan
Honey bee forage in Mendon, Michigan
Estimated forage here is better than about 92% of sites in Michigan. Against other Michigan sites it stands out most in summer (89th percentile) and lowest in spring (33rd). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.3 mi NW, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.3 mi S, grown 3 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.5 mi W, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Mendon?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Aug 15, peaking late Jul (soybeans)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Mendon, 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, garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, alfalfa; 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 2,309 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi NW, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 4,589 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi S, 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 Mendon
Mostly: Corn; Soybeans.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.16 mi W; open water 0.17 mi S.
How Mendon ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 89th | 55th | 91st | 46th |
| Michigan | 92nd | 33rd | 89th | 42nd |
| Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains | 83rd | 47th | 74th | 30th |
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 Mendon: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Centreville 7 mi · Colon 8 mi · Vicksburg 9 mi · Three Rivers 10 mi · Sherwood 11 mi · Schoolcraft 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 Mendon (42.0085, -85.454); 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.