city in Minnesota

Honey bee forage in Hilltop, Minnesota

Estimated forage here is better than about 34% of sites in Minnesota. Against other Minnesota sites it stands out most in spring (80th percentile) and lowest in summer (34th). Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river, 0.36 mi S.

When is the honey flow in Hilltop?

  • First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
  • Main flow: May 1 to Jul 15, peaking early May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
  • Fall flow: Aug 1 to Sep 30 (garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
  • Season ends: Oct 15
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Hilltop, 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 11.

What the honey is made of

  • Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
  • Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
  • Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; 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, lindens / basswood; 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 Hilltop

Mostly: Developed, medium intensity; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, high intensity (paved).

Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.36 mi S; open water 0.59 mi N.

Things to watch

  • Heavily developed. About 98% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.

How Hilltop ranks

Against random land inOverallSpringSummerFall
Continental US69th66th72nd80th
Minnesota34th80th34th70th
North Central Hardwood Forests29th80th22nd63rd

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 Hilltop: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.

Nearby

Columbia Heights 0 mi · Fridley 2 mi · St. Anthony 2 mi · New Brighton 2 mi · Brooklyn Center 3 mi · Mounds View 4 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 Hilltop (45.0536, -93.2501); 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.