community in Florida
Honey bee forage in Istachatta, Florida
Estimated forage here is better than about 63% of sites in Florida. Against other Florida sites it stands out most in summer (66th percentile) and lowest in fall (50th). Biggest nearby bee crops: clover and wildflowers (nearest 2.8 mi S, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Istachatta?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jan 1 to Apr 15, peaking early Feb (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Season ends: Dec 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Istachatta, 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 8.
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): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers; amber
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), 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
- Clover and wildflowers: about 6 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.8 mi S, blooms early Feb – early 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 Istachatta
Mostly: Eastern Warm Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Florida Longleaf Pine Sandhill; Southern Coastal Plain Dry Upland Hardwood Forest.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0 mi S; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.02 mi N.
How Istachatta ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 67th | 68th | 13th | 40th |
| Florida | 63rd | 58th | 66th | 50th |
| Southern Coastal Plain | 62nd | 53rd | 66th | 55th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 77% 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 Istachatta: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Nobleton 1 mi · Floral City 4 mi · Lake Lindsey 6 mi · North Brooksville 7 mi · Bushnell 10 mi · Hill 'n Dale 10 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 Istachatta (28.6619, -82.2745); 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.