city in Minnesota
Honey bee forage in Shorewood, Minnesota
Estimated forage here is better than about 41% of sites in Minnesota. Against other Minnesota sites it stands out most in spring (92nd percentile) and lowest in summer (34th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 2.7 mi SE, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 2.7 mi SE, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Shorewood?
- 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 Aug 31 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Shorewood, 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, garden flowers; 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; 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
- Soybeans: about 23 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.7 mi SE, blooms late Jun – early Sep (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 16 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.7 mi SE, blooms early Jul – early 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 Shorewood
Mostly: Open water; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns); Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.27 mi N; pond, lake or river 0.38 mi NE.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 68% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Shorewood ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 74th | 76th | 72nd | 78th |
| Minnesota | 41st | 92nd | 34th | 67th |
| North Central Hardwood Forests | 41st | 92nd | 22nd | 56th |
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 Shorewood: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Tonka Bay 1 mi · Excelsior 1 mi · Greenwood 2 mi · Village of Minnetonka Beach 3 mi · Spring Park 3 mi · Chanhassen 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 Shorewood (44.9024, -93.5953); 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.