city in Minnesota
Honey bee forage in Orono, Minnesota
Estimated forage here is better than about 19% of sites in Minnesota. Against other Minnesota sites it stands out most in spring (74th percentile) and lowest in summer (16th). Biggest nearby bee crops: alfalfa (nearest 2.7 mi N, grown 2 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 2.6 mi N, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 2.7 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Orono?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Jul 15, peaking late May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Fall flow: Aug 1 to Aug 31 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Orono, 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 13.
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, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), garden flowers; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), early trees (maple, willow, poplar); 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
- Alfalfa: about 26 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.7 mi N, blooms late Jun – early Sep (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 17 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.4 mi NW, blooms late Jun – early Sep (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 Orono
Mostly: Open water; North-Central Interior Maple-Basswood Forest; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns).
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0 mi S; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.06 mi N.
How Orono ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 52nd | 63rd | 60th | 69th |
| Minnesota | 19th | 74th | 16th | 54th |
| North Central Hardwood Forests | 10th | 75th | 7th | 35th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 37% 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 Orono: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Village of Minnetonka Beach 1 mi · Long Lake 2 mi · Spring Park 3 mi · Tonka Bay 3 mi · Woodland 3 mi · Wayzata 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 Orono (44.961, -93.5877); 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.