community in Ohio
Honey bee forage in Hidden Lakes, Ohio
Estimated forage here is better than about 69% of sites in Ohio. Against other Ohio sites it stands out most in summer (63rd percentile) and lowest in spring (46th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.2 mi NW, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.2 mi N, grown 2 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.8 mi W, grown 4 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Hidden Lakes?
- First forage: Mar 1 (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), dandelion)
- Main flow: Jun 16 to Aug 15, peaking early Jul (soybeans)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Hidden Lakes, 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 4.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), dandelion; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, alfalfa; white, likely to set within weeks to a few 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): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar); 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 2,032 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi NW, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 99 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi N, 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 Hidden Lakes
Mostly: North-Central Interior Beech-Maple Forest; Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Soybeans.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.09 mi SE; open water 0.09 mi SE.
How Hidden Lakes ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 93rd | 67th | 92nd | 41st |
| Ohio | 69th | 46th | 63rd | 48th |
| Erie Drift Plain | 98th | 56th | 95th | 21st |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 43% 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 Hidden Lakes: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Mount Gilead 3 mi · Candlewood Lake 5 mi · Edison 5 mi · Chesterville 7 mi · Fulton 7 mi · Cardington 8 mi
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 Hidden Lakes (40.5479, -82.7632); 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.