city in Minnesota
Honey bee forage in Tonka Bay, Minnesota
Estimated forage here is better than about 14% of sites in Minnesota. Against other Minnesota sites it stands out most in spring (64th percentile) and lowest in summer (12th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 3.3 mi S, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 3.3 mi S, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Tonka Bay?
- 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 Tonka Bay, 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, 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, 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 3.3 mi S, blooms late Jun – early Sep (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 16 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.3 mi S, 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 Tonka Bay
Mostly: Open water; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns); Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0 mi S; open water 0 mi S.
How Tonka Bay ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 43rd | 55th | 57th | 67th |
| Minnesota | 14th | 64th | 12th | 50th |
| North Central Hardwood Forests | 5th | 60th | 6th | 30th |
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 Tonka Bay: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Shorewood 1 mi · Excelsior 1 mi · Greenwood 2 mi · Village of Minnetonka Beach 2 mi · Spring Park 3 mi · Deephaven 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 Tonka Bay (44.9144, -93.5855); 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.