city in Ohio
Honey bee forage in Mentor, Ohio
Estimated forage here is better than about 40% of sites in Ohio. Against other Ohio sites it stands out most in fall (100th percentile) and lowest in summer (38th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 3.0 mi S, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 3.5 mi S, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Mentor?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Apr 1 to Jul 15, peaking early May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Aug 1 to Sep 30 (garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Mentor, 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): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; 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 34 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.5 mi S, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 13 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.5 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 Mentor
Mostly: Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns); Open water.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.13 mi SE; pond, lake or river 0.25 mi N.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 98% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Mentor ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 81st | 83rd | 76th | 82nd |
| Ohio | 40th | 65th | 38th | 100th |
| Eastern Great Lakes Lowlands | 90th | 94th | 63rd | 97th |
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 Mentor: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Mentor-on-the-Lake 2 mi · Kirtland Hills 4 mi · Grand River 5 mi · Painesville 5 mi · Willoughby 5 mi · Fairport Harbor 5 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 Mentor (41.6902, -81.3359); 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.