community in Florida
Honey bee forage in Matlacha, Florida
Estimated forage here is better than about 26% of sites in Florida. Against other Florida sites it stands out most in fall (67th percentile) and lowest in spring (4th). Expect a dearth from early Jul to early Nov.
When is the honey flow in Matlacha?
- First forage: Jan 1 (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), dandelion)
- Main flow: Jan 1 to Mar 31, peaking late Jan (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Dearth: Jul 1 to Nov 15
- Fall flow: Dec 16 to Dec 31 (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), dandelion)
- Season ends: Dec 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Matlacha, 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): summer-flowering shrubs, clovers: white, alsike and red, summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); amber
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers, early trees (maple, willow, poplar); amber
- Whole season (March to November): summer-flowering shrubs, clovers: white, alsike and red, summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), garden flowers; 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
- Oranges: about 4 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.4 mi W, 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 Matlacha
Mostly: Caribbean Coastal Mangrove; Open water; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.03 mi SE; open water 0.07 mi W.
How Matlacha ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 43rd | 42nd | 6th | 47th |
| Florida | 26th | 4th | 15th | 67th |
| Southern Coastal Plain | 29th | 2nd | 13th | 72nd |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 63% 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 Matlacha: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Matlacha Isles-Matlacha Shores 1 mi · Pine Island Center 3 mi · Pineland 5 mi · Cape Coral 5 mi · Bokeelia 5 mi · St. James City 7 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 Matlacha (26.6364, -82.0766); 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.