city in Michigan
Honey bee forage in Muskegon Heights, Michigan
Estimated forage here is better than about 46% of sites in Michigan. Against other Michigan sites it stands out most in fall (90th percentile) and lowest in summer (49th). Biggest nearby bee crops: blueberries (nearest 3.6 mi S).
When is the honey flow in Muskegon Heights?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Jul 31, peaking early May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Aug 16 to Sep 30 (garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Muskegon Heights, 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 12.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; 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
- Blueberries: about 2 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.6 mi S, blooms early May – late May
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 Muskegon Heights
Mostly: Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Open water; Developed, medium intensity.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.53 mi SE; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.6 mi SE.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 98% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Muskegon Heights ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 69th | 66th | 72nd | 81st |
| Michigan | 46th | 58th | 49th | 90th |
| Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains | 8th | 71st | 9th | 92nd |
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 Muskegon Heights: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Roosevelt Park 2 mi · Muskegon 2 mi · Norton Shores 2 mi · North Muskegon 4 mi · Fruitport 7 mi · Wolf Lake 7 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 Muskegon Heights (43.2019, -86.241); 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.