community in Michigan
Honey bee forage in Vandercook Lake, Michigan
Estimated forage here is better than about 75% of sites in Michigan. Against other Michigan sites it stands out most in spring (96th percentile) and lowest in summer (59th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 0.9 mi S); soybeans (nearest 1.4 mi N, grown 2 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 1.6 mi SW, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Vandercook Lake?
- First forage: Mar 1 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Apr 1 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 Vandercook 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 8.
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
- Corn: about 115 acres in a typical year, nearest 1 mi S, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 5 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 8 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.4 mi N, blooms late Jun – late 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 Vandercook Lake
Mostly: Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns); Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); North-Central Interior and Appalachian Rich Swamp.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.26 mi SE; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.56 mi N.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 63% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Vandercook Lake ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 82nd | 87th | 76th | 79th |
| Michigan | 75th | 96th | 59th | 89th |
| Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains | 42nd | 98th | 15th | 90th |
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 Vandercook Lake: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Jackson 4 mi · Michigan Center 4 mi · Napoleon 7 mi · Spring Arbor 9 mi · Cement City 9 mi · Brooklyn 9 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 Vandercook Lake (42.1914, -84.3855); 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.