community in South Carolina
Honey bee forage in Northlake, South Carolina
Estimated forage here is better than about 55% of sites in South Carolina. Against other South Carolina sites it stands out most in summer (70th percentile) and lowest in spring (57th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 1.8 mi N, grown 2 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 1.8 mi N, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Northlake?
- First forage: Jan 16 (dandelion)
- Main flow: Feb 16 to May 31, peaking late Mar (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jun 16 to Jul 31 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Northlake, 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 Mar 18.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), summer-flowering shrubs; 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, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); amber
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, likely to set over some months
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 69 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.4 mi SW, blooms late May – late Jun (grown 4 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 19 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.6 mi W, blooms early May – early Jul (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 Northlake
Mostly: Southern Piedmont Dry Oak Forest; Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns).
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.03 mi SW; open water 0.03 mi SW.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 58% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Northlake ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 60th | 84th | 34th | 21st |
| South Carolina | 55th | 57th | 70th | 65th |
| Piedmont | 63rd | 59th | 55th | 84th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 36% 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 Northlake: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Centerville 3 mi · Anderson 4 mi · Sandy Springs 4 mi · La France 6 mi · Pendleton 7 mi · Homeland Park 7 mi
All towns in South Carolina · 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 Northlake (34.5706, -82.6843); 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.