community in Michigan
Honey bee forage in Sand Lake, Michigan
Estimated forage here is better than about 7% of sites in Michigan. Against other Michigan sites it stands out most in fall (51st percentile) and lowest in summer (8th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 2.8 mi S, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 2.7 mi S, grown 4 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 2.7 mi S, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Sand Lake?
- First forage: Mar 16 (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), dandelion)
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Jul 15, peaking late May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Fall flow: Aug 1 to Aug 15 (summer-flowering shrubs, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Sand Lake, 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 20.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), summer-flowering shrubs; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, summer-flowering shrubs, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs, 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
- Soybeans: about 99 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.9 mi S, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 129 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.7 mi S, blooms late Jul – late Aug (grown 4 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 Sand Lake
Mostly: Laurentian Jack Pine-Red Pine Forest; Northeastern North American Temperate Forest Plantation; Laurentian-Acadian Northern Pine Forest.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.11 mi W; open water 0.11 mi W.
How Sand Lake ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 25th | 46th | 48th | 53rd |
| Michigan | 7th | 22nd | 8th | 51st |
| Northern Lakes and Forests | 14th | 14th | 15th | 75th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 68% 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 Sand Lake: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Tawas City 8 mi · East Tawas 9 mi · Whittemore 9 mi · Turner 14 mi · Prescott 16 mi · Twining 16 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 Sand Lake (44.329, -83.6657); 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.