city in Michigan
Honey bee forage in Orchard Lake Village, Michigan
Estimated forage here is better than about 9% of sites in Michigan. Against other Michigan sites it stands out most in fall (71st percentile) and lowest in summer (9th). Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river, less than 0.1 mi away.
When is the honey flow in Orchard Lake Village?
- 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 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Orchard Lake Village, 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 10.
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, dandelion, garden flowers, summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, 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); 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
No rated bee crops within about 3.7 miles of the town center. The forage here is wild plants, trees and gardens.
The land and water around Orchard Lake Village
Mostly: Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Open water; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns).
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.03 mi NE; open water 0.03 mi NE.
How Orchard Lake Village ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 30th | 47th | 51st | 66th |
| Michigan | 9th | 24th | 9th | 71st |
| Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains | below the 1st | 34th | below the 1st | 66th |
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 Orchard Lake Village: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Keego Harbor 2 mi · Sylvan Lake 3 mi · Pontiac 6 mi · Franklin 6 mi · Walled Lake 6 mi · Wolverine Lake 6 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 Orchard Lake Village (42.5894, -83.3713); 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.