To improve forage for my bees, I wanted to find plants that bloom when minimal forage is currently available. I could define this by both observing high bee value plants in area, and also tracking honey production by placing hives on scales. First to define the bee forage area. Bees can travel long distances to find pollen and nectar. Normal distance is reported as three mile range, with some claims up maximum of up to ten miles. I used Google Earth to draw a circle with a two mile radius around my hives reducing my test area. This is still 8000 acres. Looking at what was showing in Google Earth I am roughly defining the area of interest as Co Rd 22 on east, Tiffin River bottoms to west, Co Rd L on north, and Co Rd E to the south.

I have identified several land uses in my bee forage besides basic agricultural crops of corn, soy beans, and wheat. Some of the land use features of interest in this area are:

• My farm barnyard,

• My personal orchard,

• My woods, (there are several other private woods in the area),

• Small village (Elmira and Burlington)

• State and county roads,

• I80 including exit 23,

• Tiffin river bottoms,

• Johnson cemetery,

• A family weekend resort,

• Private grass air strip, and

• NORTA (Northwestern Ohio Rails-to-Trails Association).

Some of these features already provide forage. The goal is to fill in time periods that currently have minimal forage. After several planting on my farm I meant with (NORTA) who gave me permission to plant pollinator forage on their property.