city in Ohio
Honey bee forage in Solon, Ohio
Estimated forage here is better than about 35% of sites in Ohio. Against other Ohio sites it stands out most in fall (99th percentile) and lowest in summer (35th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 3.0 mi E, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 3.1 mi E, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Solon?
- 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)
- Fall flow: Aug 1 to Sep 15 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Solon, 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 5.
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, dandelion, garden flowers, 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, summer-flowering shrubs; 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 12 acres in a typical year, nearest 3 mi E, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 3 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.2 mi E, blooms early Jul – early 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 Solon
Mostly: Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns); North-Central Interior Beech-Maple Forest.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.3 mi E; open water 0.37 mi E.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 93% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Solon ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 79th | 82nd | 74th | 78th |
| Ohio | 35th | 64th | 35th | 99th |
| Erie Drift Plain | 59th | 85th | 45th | 98th |
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 Solon: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Bentleyville 2 mi · Glenwillow 2 mi · Bedford Heights 3 mi · Oakwood 4 mi · Moreland Hills 4 mi · Chagrin Falls 4 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 Solon (41.386, -81.4408); 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.