community in Florida
Honey bee forage in The Villages, Florida
Estimated forage here is better than about 69% of sites in Florida. Against other Florida sites it stands out most in summer (94th percentile) and lowest in spring and fall (62nd). Biggest nearby bee crops: watermelons (nearest 3.6 mi NW, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in The Villages?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jan 16 to Apr 15, peaking early Feb (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jun 1 to Jun 30 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers)
- Season ends: Dec 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of The Villages, 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 8.
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), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- 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
- Watermelons: about 3 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.6 mi NW, blooms late Mar – late Jul (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 The Villages
Mostly: Developed, medium intensity; Eastern Warm Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns).
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.07 mi W; open water 0.09 mi SW.
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 The Villages ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 72nd | 69th | 27th | 45th |
| Florida | 69th | 62nd | 94th | 62nd |
| Southern Coastal Plain | 69th | 57th | 93rd | 67th |
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 The Villages: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Lady Lake 4 mi · Fruitland Park 5 mi · Wildwood 6 mi · Coleman 8 mi · Ocklawaha 11 mi · Lake Panasoffkee 11 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 The Villages (28.8989, -81.9937); 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.