community in Florida
Honey bee forage in Ave Maria, Florida
Estimated forage here is better than about 95% of sites in Florida. Against other Florida sites it stands out most in spring (95th percentile) and lowest in fall (39th). Expect a dearth from early Oct to late Nov.
When is the honey flow in Ave Maria?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Feb 16 to Apr 15, peaking late Mar (oranges)
- Dearth: Jul 1 to Jul 31
- Dearth: Oct 1 to Nov 30
- Season ends: Dec 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Ave Maria, 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 Jan 28.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): oranges, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, citrus; white, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); amber
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), early trees (maple, willow, poplar); amber
- Whole season (March to November): oranges, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, dandelion; white, 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
- Oranges: about 6,882 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.7 mi E, blooms early Feb – early Apr
- Citrus: about 365 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.5 mi E, blooms early Feb – early Apr
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 Ave Maria
Mostly: Oranges; South Florida Pine Wet Flatwoods; Eastern Warm Temperate Pasture and Hayland.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.03 mi NW; open water 0.04 mi N.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 54% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
- Bee crops nearby that are often sprayed. Oranges: insecticides used on about 93% of surveyed US acres (2025); Citrus: grapefruit: insecticides used on about 63% of surveyed US acres (2025); Citrus: lemons: insecticides used on about 75% of surveyed US acres (2025); Citrus: tangerines: insecticides used on about 82% of surveyed US acres (2025). Figures are from USDA's Agricultural Chemical Use Survey, matched by crop type from the crop map. The survey counts any insecticide use in the crop year (not seed treatments) and doesn't say when; ask nearby growers about spray timing.
How Ave Maria ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 99th | 99th | 12th | 34th |
| Florida | 95th | 95th | 61st | 39th |
| Southern Coastal Plain | 95th | 95th | 61st | 43rd |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 44% 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 Ave Maria: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Immokalee 7 mi · Orangetree 9 mi · Heritage Bay 14 mi · Island Walk 18 mi · Vineyards 19 mi · Golden Gate 19 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 Ave Maria (26.3228, -81.4394); 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.