town in Delaware
Honey bee forage in South Bethany, Delaware
Estimated forage here is better than about 4% of sites in Delaware. Against other Delaware sites it stands out most in fall (75th percentile) and lowest in summer (3rd). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.9 mi W, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.9 mi W, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in South Bethany?
- First forage: Feb 16 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Mar 16 to Jun 30, peaking late Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jul 16 to Aug 31 (garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of South Bethany, 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 16.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); 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 11 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi W, blooms early Jun – early Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 10 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi W, blooms late Jun – late Jul (grown 1 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 South Bethany
Mostly: Open water; Developed, medium intensity; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.02 mi S; open water 0.31 mi SW.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 56% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How South Bethany ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 51st | 70th | 52nd | 53rd |
| Delaware | 4th | 64th | 3rd | 75th |
| Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain | 20th | 24th | 54th | 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 South Bethany: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Bethany Beach 2 mi · Ocean View 3 mi · Fenwick Island 4 mi · Millville 4 mi · Selbyville 9 mi · Long Neck 9 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 South Bethany (38.5163, -75.0581); 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.