city in Florida
Honey bee forage in Marathon, Florida
Estimated forage here is better than about 30% of sites in Florida. Against other Florida sites it stands out most in summer (53rd percentile) and lowest in spring (7th). Expect a dearth from early Oct to late Nov.
When is the honey flow in Marathon?
- 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)
- Season ends: Dec 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Marathon, 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 21.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs, garden flowers; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), dandelion, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); amber, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs; 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
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 Marathon
Mostly: Open water; Developed, medium intensity; Caribbean Coastal Mangrove.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.08 mi N; open water 0.08 mi N.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 76% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Marathon ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 45th | 44th | 11th | 36th |
| Florida | 30th | 7th | 53rd | 42nd |
| Southern Florida Coastal Plain | 25th | 27th | 54th | 15th |
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 Marathon: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Key Colony Beach 1 mi · Duck Key 8 mi · Layton 15 mi · Big Pine Key 21 mi · Cudjoe Key 30 mi · Islamorada, Village of Islands 35 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 Marathon (24.7323, -81.0251); 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.