city in Connecticut

Honey bee forage in New London, Connecticut

Estimated forage here is better than about 9% of sites in Connecticut. Against other Connecticut sites it stands out most in fall (63rd percentile) and lowest in spring (1st). Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river, less than 0.1 mi away.

When is the honey flow in New London?

  • 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 30 (garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
  • Season ends: Sep 30
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of New London, 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 6.

What the honey is made of

  • Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), garden flowers; 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, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
  • Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); 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

No rated bee crops within about 3.7 miles of the town center. The forage here is wild plants, trees and gardens.

The land and water around New London

Mostly: Open water; Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Hardwood Forest; Developed, medium intensity.

Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0 mi S; open water 0 mi S.

Things to watch

  • Heavily developed. About 55% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.

How New London ranks

Against random land inOverallSpringSummerFall
Continental US23rd46th41st57th
Connecticut9th1st32nd63rd
Northeastern Coastal Zone8th3rd19th50th

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 New London: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.

Nearby

Groton 2 mi · Waterford 2 mi · Long Hill 3 mi · Conning Towers-Nautilus Park 4 mi · Poquonock Bridge 4 mi · Groton Long Point 5 mi

All towns in Connecticut · 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 New London (41.333, -72.0962); 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.