community in Florida
Honey bee forage in Palmer Ranch, Florida
Estimated forage here is better than about 69% of sites in Florida. Against other Florida sites it stands out most in summer (88th percentile) and lowest in spring (50th). Expect a dearth from early Oct to early Dec.
When is the honey flow in Palmer Ranch?
- 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)
- Dearth: Oct 1 to Dec 15
- Fall flow: Jun 1 to Jun 15 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers)
- Season ends: Dec 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Palmer Ranch, 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 31.
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, 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, garden flowers, dandelion, 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
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 Palmer Ranch
Mostly: Eastern Warm Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Developed, medium intensity; Open water.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.04 mi E; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.06 mi S.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 75% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Palmer Ranch ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 72nd | 65th | 22nd | 47th |
| Florida | 69th | 50th | 88th | 67th |
| Southern Coastal Plain | 69th | 45th | 87th | 71st |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 30% 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 Palmer Ranch: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Vamo 2 mi · Osprey 2 mi · Gulf Gate 4 mi · Bee Ridge 4 mi · South Gate Ridge 5 mi · Laurel 5 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 Palmer Ranch (27.2234, -82.4613); 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.