city in Minnesota
Honey bee forage in Birchwood Village, Minnesota
Estimated forage here is better than about 35% of sites in Minnesota. Against other Minnesota sites it stands out most in spring (85th percentile) and lowest in summer (32nd). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 2.1 mi NE, grown 3 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 2.2 mi NE, grown 1 of the last 5 years); sweet corn (nearest 3.1 mi E, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Birchwood Village?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Jul 15, peaking early May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Aug 1 to Sep 30 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Birchwood 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 12.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; 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): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers; 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; 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
- Corn: about 29 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.1 mi NE, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 12 acres in a typical year, nearest 3 mi E, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 3 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 Birchwood Village
Mostly: Open water; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns); Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.13 mi NE; open water 0.13 mi NE.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 61% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Birchwood Village ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 69th | 70th | 71st | 78th |
| Minnesota | 35th | 85th | 32nd | 68th |
| North Central Hardwood Forests | 31st | 86th | 19th | 57th |
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 Birchwood Village: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Mahtomedi 0 mi · Willernie 1 mi · White Bear Lake 2 mi · Pine Springs 2 mi · Dellwood 3 mi · Gem Lake 3 mi
All towns in Minnesota · 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 Birchwood Village (45.06, -92.978); 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.