borough in Connecticut
Honey bee forage in Stonington, Connecticut
Estimated forage here is better than about 55% of sites in Connecticut. Against other Connecticut sites it stands out most in fall (74th percentile) and lowest in spring (43rd). Biggest nearby bee crops: alfalfa (nearest 1.7 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 2.7 mi NE).
When is the honey flow in Stonington?
- First forage: Mar 1 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Apr 1 to Jun 30, peaking early May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jul 16 to Jul 31 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs)
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Stonington, 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): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), summer-flowering shrubs; 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, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, early trees (maple, willow, poplar); 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
- Alfalfa: about 2 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.9 mi N, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 8 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.7 mi NE, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 5 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 Stonington
Mostly: Open water; Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Hardwood Forest; Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Maritime Forest.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.02 mi W; pond, lake or river 0.02 mi S.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 50% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Stonington ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 44th | 62nd | 51st | 63rd |
| Connecticut | 55th | 43rd | 57th | 74th |
| Northeastern Coastal Zone | 41st | 36th | 42nd | 66th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 42% 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 Stonington: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Mystic 3 mi · Pawcatuck 4 mi · Noank 5 mi · Old Mystic 6 mi · Poquonock Bridge 6 mi · Groton Long Point 6 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 Stonington (41.3348, -71.8995); 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.