community in Florida
Honey bee forage in Meadow Oaks, Florida
Estimated forage here is better than about 74% of sites in Florida. Against other Florida sites it stands out most in summer (88th percentile) and lowest in spring (62nd). Biggest nearby bee crops: oranges (nearest 3.4 mi N); strawberries (nearest 3.4 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Meadow Oaks?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jan 1 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 Meadow Oaks, 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 5.
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): garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); amber
- 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, 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
- Oranges: about 1 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.4 mi N, blooms late Feb – late Apr
- Strawberries: about 1 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.4 mi N, blooms early Jan – late Dec (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 Meadow Oaks
Mostly: Central Florida Pine Flatwoods; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns); Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.13 mi S; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.13 mi N.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 61% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Meadow Oaks ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 76th | 69th | 22nd | 50th |
| Florida | 74th | 62nd | 88th | 75th |
| Southern Coastal Plain | 75th | 58th | 87th | 80th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 44% 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 Meadow Oaks: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Quail Ridge 3 mi · Moon Lake 4 mi · Shady Hills 5 mi · Bayonet Point 5 mi · Hudson 6 mi · Heritage Pines 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 Meadow Oaks (28.3498, -82.5976); 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.