community in Michigan
Honey bee forage in South Monroe, Michigan
Estimated forage here is better than about 78% of sites in Michigan. Against other Michigan sites it stands out most in fall (77th percentile) and lowest in spring (66th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.2 mi SE, grown 4 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.3 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in South Monroe?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: May 1 to Aug 31, peaking early Jul (soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of South Monroe, 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 6.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, garden flowers; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, dandelion; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers; 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 790 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.8 mi S, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 4 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 339 acres in a typical year, nearest 1 mi S, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 2 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 South Monroe
Mostly: Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, medium intensity; Open water.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.08 mi N; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.31 mi SW.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 74% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How South Monroe ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 83rd | 69th | 85th | 70th |
| Michigan | 78th | 66th | 74th | 77th |
| Huron/Erie Lake Plains | 29th | 86th | 23rd | 62nd |
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 South Monroe: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
West Monroe 2 mi · Monroe 2 mi · Detroit Beach 5 mi · Luna Pier 6 mi · Woodland Beach 6 mi · Ida 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 South Monroe (41.8927, -83.4186); 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.