community in Florida
Honey bee forage in DeLand Southwest, Florida
Estimated forage here is better than about 90% of sites in Florida. Against other Florida sites it stands out most in summer (98th percentile) and lowest in fall (59th). Biggest nearby bee crops: oranges (nearest 3.5 mi NE).
When is the honey flow in DeLand Southwest?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jan 16 to Apr 15, peaking early Feb (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Dec 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of DeLand Southwest, 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 Feb 7.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); amber
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; 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
- Oranges: about 1 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.5 mi NE, blooms late Feb – late 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 DeLand Southwest
Mostly: Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns); Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Central Florida Pine Flatwoods.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.24 mi NW; pond, lake or river 0.25 mi N.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 91% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How DeLand Southwest ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 88th | 82nd | 32nd | 44th |
| Florida | 90th | 84th | 98th | 59th |
| Southern Coastal Plain | 90th | 83rd | 97th | 65th |
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 DeLand Southwest: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
West DeLand 2 mi · DeLand 2 mi · North DeLand 3 mi · Lake Helen 5 mi · Orange City 5 mi · Lake Mack-Forest Hills 6 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 DeLand Southwest (29.0078, -81.3113); 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.