community in Florida
Honey bee forage in On Top of the World, Florida
Estimated forage here is better than about 84% of sites in Florida. Against other Florida sites it stands out most in summer (94th percentile) and lowest in fall (24th). Biggest nearby bee crops: watermelons (nearest 2.4 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years); millet (nearest 2.6 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in On Top of the World?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jan 16 to Apr 15, peaking late Feb (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: May 1 to Jun 30 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Dec 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of On Top of the World, 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 11.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- 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, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); 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
- Watermelons: about 3 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.4 mi N, blooms late Mar – late Jul (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Millet: about 6 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.6 mi N, blooms early Apr – early May (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 On Top of the World
Mostly: Eastern Warm Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Florida Longleaf Pine Sandhill; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.28 mi N; open water 0.3 mi N.
Things to watch
- Bee crops nearby that are often sprayed. Watermelons: insecticides used on about 38% of surveyed US acres (2024). Figures are from USDA's Agricultural Chemical Use Survey, matched by crop type from the crop map. The survey counts any insecticide use in the crop year (not seed treatments) and doesn't say when; ask nearby growers about spray timing.
How On Top of the World ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 83rd | 86th | 27th | 22nd |
| Florida | 84th | 87th | 94th | 24th |
| Southern Coastal Plain | 85th | 86th | 93rd | 25th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 55% 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 On Top of the World: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Liberty Triangle 5 mi · Rainbow Park 6 mi · Ocala Estates 7 mi · Dunnellon 9 mi · Marion Oaks 9 mi · Rainbow Springs 9 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 On Top of the World (29.1058, -82.2866); 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.