community in New York
Honey bee forage in Hillside Lake, New York
Estimated forage here is better than about 93% of sites in New York. Against other New York sites it stands out most in spring (97th percentile) and lowest in summer (76th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 0.6 mi NW, grown 3 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.4 mi W, grown 1 of the last 5 years); clover and wildflowers (nearest 1.8 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Hillside Lake?
- First forage: Mar 1 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Apr 1 to Jul 15, peaking early May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Hillside Lake, 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 6.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, 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, 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, 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
- Corn: about 20 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi NW, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 5 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi W, blooms late Jun – late 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 Hillside Lake
Mostly: Northeastern Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest; Appalachian Northern Hardwood Forest; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns).
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.03 mi NE; open water 0.04 mi N.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 59% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Hillside Lake ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 78th | 86th | 72nd | 73rd |
| New York | 93rd | 97th | 76th | 93rd |
| Northeastern Coastal Zone | 96th | 96th | 95th | 93rd |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 47% 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 Hillside Lake: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Hopewell Junction 3 mi · Chelsea Cove 3 mi · New Hackensack 3 mi · Freedom Plains 3 mi · Red Oaks Mill 5 mi · Myers Corner 5 mi
All towns in New York · 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 Hillside Lake (41.6158, -73.797); 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.