city in Minnesota
Honey bee forage in Lake Elmo, Minnesota
Estimated forage here is better than about 56% of sites in Minnesota. Against other Minnesota sites it stands out most in spring (92nd percentile) and lowest in summer (46th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.4 mi N, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.6 mi N, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Lake Elmo?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Aug 31, peaking late May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Lake Elmo, 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): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), early trees (maple, willow, poplar); extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, dandelion, 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); extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, likely to set over some months
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 33 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi N, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 45 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.7 mi N, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 1 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 Lake Elmo
Mostly: Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns).
Nearest mapped water: open water 0.16 mi SE; pond, lake or river 0.19 mi SE.
How Lake Elmo ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 82nd | 76th | 81st | 81st |
| Minnesota | 56th | 92nd | 46th | 71st |
| North Central Hardwood Forests | 75th | 91st | 46th | 64th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 56% 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 Lake Elmo: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Oakdale 3 mi · Pine Springs 4 mi · Landfall 4 mi · North St. Paul 5 mi · Willernie 5 mi · Woodbury 6 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 Lake Elmo (44.9879, -92.9097); 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.