community in Florida
Honey bee forage in Sharpes, Florida
Estimated forage here is better than about 75% of sites in Florida. Against other Florida sites it stands out most in summer (88th percentile) and lowest in spring (54th). Expect a dearth from early Oct to early Dec.
When is the honey flow in Sharpes?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jan 1 to Mar 31, peaking early Feb (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Dearth: Oct 1 to Dec 15
- Season ends: Dec 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Sharpes, 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 1.
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 Sharpes
Mostly: Open water; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Central Florida Pine Wet Flatwoods.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.07 mi NW; pond, lake or river 0.08 mi NE.
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 Sharpes ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 77th | 66th | 23rd | 48th |
| Florida | 75th | 54th | 88th | 68th |
| Southern Coastal Plain | 76th | 50th | 88th | 73rd |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
The national forage map around Sharpes: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
North Merritt Island 3 mi · Port St. John 4 mi · Cocoa 5 mi · Tropical Park 5 mi · Cocoa West 6 mi · West Canaveral Groves 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 Sharpes (28.4436, -80.7614); 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.