community in Florida
Honey bee forage in Matlacha Isles-Matlacha Shores, Florida
Estimated forage here is better than about 44% of sites in Florida. Against other Florida sites it stands out most in fall (59th percentile) and lowest in spring (11th). Expect a dearth from early Jul to early Nov.
When is the honey flow in Matlacha Isles-Matlacha Shores?
- 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 Isles-Matlacha Shores, 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), dandelion; 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): garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), early trees (maple, willow, poplar); amber
- Whole season (March to November): summer-flowering shrubs, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, summer-flowering trees (locust, linden); 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 Matlacha Isles-Matlacha Shores
Mostly: Caribbean Coastal Mangrove; Open water; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0 mi S; pond, lake or river 0.02 mi W.
How Matlacha Isles-Matlacha Shores ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 53rd | 46th | 7th | 44th |
| Florida | 44th | 11th | 29th | 59th |
| Southern Coastal Plain | 42nd | 5th | 27th | 64th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 57% 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 Isles-Matlacha Shores: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Matlacha 1 mi · Cape Coral 4 mi · Pine Island Center 4 mi · Pineland 6 mi · Bokeelia 6 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 Isles-Matlacha Shores (26.6293, -82.0587); 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.