community in Florida
Honey bee forage in Pine Island, Florida
Estimated forage here is better than about 8% of sites in Florida. Against other Florida sites it stands out most in fall (84th percentile) and lowest in spring (4th). Expect a dearth from early Jul to late Jul.
When is the honey flow in Pine Island?
- First forage: Jan 1 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Jan 1 to Apr 15, peaking early Feb (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Dearth: Jul 1 to Jul 31
- Season ends: Dec 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Pine Island, 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 6.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), summer-flowering shrubs, clovers: white, alsike and red, native wildflowers; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers; amber
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); amber
- Whole season (March to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), summer-flowering shrubs, clovers: white, alsike and red; 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 Pine Island
Mostly: Open water; Southern Coastal Plain Hydric Hammock; Florida Big Bend Salt and Brackish Tidal Marsh.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.03 mi NE; pond, lake or river 0.04 mi E.
How Pine Island ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 22nd | 40th | 7th | 57th |
| Florida | 8th | 4th | 25th | 84th |
| Southern Coastal Plain | 6th | 1st | 23rd | 91st |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 66% 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 Pine Island: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Bayport 2 mi · Weeki Wachee Gardens 3 mi · North Weeki Wachee 6 mi · Hernando Beach 7 mi · Timber Pines 8 mi · High Point 8 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 Pine Island (28.5724, -82.6548); 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.