town in Delaware
Honey bee forage in Smyrna, Delaware
Estimated forage here is better than about 80% of sites in Delaware. Against other Delaware sites it stands out most in spring (90th percentile) and lowest in summer (44th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 1.1 mi N, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.8 mi E, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Smyrna?
- First forage: Mar 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Apr 1 to Aug 15, peaking late Jun (soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Smyrna, 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 Apr 19.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans, lindens / basswood; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers; 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
- Soybeans: about 119 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.1 mi N, blooms early Jun – early Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 211 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.8 mi E, blooms late Jun – late 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 Smyrna
Mostly: Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns); Corn; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.15 mi S; open water 0.28 mi E.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 78% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Smyrna ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 88th | 87th | 85th | 55th |
| Delaware | 80th | 90th | 44th | 77th |
| Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain | 90th | 67th | 86th | 95th |
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 Smyrna: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Clayton 2 mi · Cheswold 5 mi · Kenton 6 mi · Leipsic 6 mi · Townsend 9 mi · Hartly 10 mi
All towns in Delaware · 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 Smyrna (39.2953, -75.6087); 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.