community in Michigan
Honey bee forage in Michigan Center, Michigan
Estimated forage here is better than about 58% of sites in Michigan. Against other Michigan sites it stands out most in spring (84th percentile) and lowest in summer (49th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 1.3 mi E, grown 2 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 1.0 mi NE, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 1.3 mi SE, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Michigan Center?
- First forage: Mar 1 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Jul 15, peaking early May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Aug 1 to Aug 31 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Michigan Center, 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 9.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); 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, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); 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 18 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.3 mi E, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 20 acres in a typical year, nearest 1 mi NE, blooms late Jun – 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 Michigan Center
Mostly: Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); North-Central Interior and Appalachian Rich Swamp; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns).
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.04 mi S; open water 0.04 mi S.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 58% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Michigan Center ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 74th | 77th | 72nd | 74th |
| Michigan | 58th | 84th | 49th | 83rd |
| Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains | 15th | 89th | 9th | 83rd |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 41% 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 Michigan Center: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Vandercook Lake 4 mi · Jackson 4 mi · Napoleon 6 mi · Grass Lake 6 mi · Brooklyn 9 mi · Vineyard Lake 11 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 Michigan Center (42.2281, -84.3226); 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.