community in Alabama
Honey bee forage in Bon Secour, Alabama
Estimated forage here is better than about 53% of sites in Alabama. Against other Alabama sites it stands out most in fall (96th percentile) and lowest in spring (26th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 0.7 mi NW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 0.8 mi NW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); millet (nearest 0.9 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Bon Secour?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Jan 16 to Apr 30, peaking late Feb (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: May 16 to Jun 15 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Dec 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Bon Secour, 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 Feb 21.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, summer-flowering shrubs, dandelion; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers; amber
- Whole season (March to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, summer-flowering shrubs, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); 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 9 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.7 mi NW, blooms late Apr – late May (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 15 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.6 mi N, blooms early Apr – early Jun (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 Bon Secour
Mostly: East Gulf Coastal Plain Near-Coast Pine Wet Flatwoods; Open water; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns).
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.04 mi N; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.24 mi S.
How Bon Secour ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 49th | 67th | 17th | 44th |
| Alabama | 53rd | 26th | 47th | 96th |
| Southern Coastal Plain | 37th | 50th | 77th | 65th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 60% 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 Bon Secour: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Gulf Shores 3 mi · Foley 6 mi · Magnolia Springs 7 mi · Orange Beach 8 mi · Elberta 9 mi · Summerdale 11 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 Bon Secour (30.3182, -87.7244); 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.