community in Florida
Honey bee forage in Big Pine Key, Florida
Estimated forage here is better than about 73% of sites in Florida. Against other Florida sites it stands out most in fall (77th percentile) and lowest in spring (36th). Expect a dearth from early Oct to late Nov.
When is the honey flow in Big Pine Key?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jan 1 to Mar 15, peaking late Jan (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Dearth: Oct 1 to Nov 30
- Fall flow: Dec 16 to Dec 31 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Season ends: Dec 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Big Pine Key, 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 22.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, 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): clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, 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
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 Big Pine Key
Mostly: Open water; Caribbean Estuary Mangrove; South Florida Everglades Sawgrass Marsh.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0 mi S; pond, lake or river 0.09 mi W.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 59% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Big Pine Key ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 76th | 58th | 14th | 51st |
| Florida | 73rd | 36th | 72nd | 77th |
| Southern Florida Coastal Plain | 86th | 83rd | 82nd | 36th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 37% 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 Big Pine Key: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Cudjoe Key 9 mi · Big Coppitt Key 20 mi · Marathon 21 mi · Key Colony Beach 22 mi · Stock Island 25 mi · Key West 27 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 Big Pine Key (24.6851, -81.3625); 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.