community in Florida
Honey bee forage in Weeki Wachee Gardens, Florida
Estimated forage here is better than about 50% of sites in Florida. Against other Florida sites it stands out most in fall (69th percentile) and lowest in spring (27th). Expect a dearth from early Oct to late Nov.
When is the honey flow in Weeki Wachee Gardens?
- First forage: Jan 1 (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), dandelion)
- Main flow: Jan 1 to Mar 31, peaking early Feb (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Dearth: Jul 1 to Jul 31
- Dearth: Oct 1 to Nov 30
- Season ends: Dec 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Weeki Wachee Gardens, 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): summer-flowering shrubs, clovers: white, alsike and red, summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers; amber
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers; amber
- Whole season (March to November): summer-flowering shrubs, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), clovers: white, alsike and red, summer-flowering trees (locust, linden); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
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 Weeki Wachee Gardens
Mostly: Southern Coastal Plain Hydric Hammock; Open water; Florida Big Bend Salt and Brackish Tidal Marsh.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.02 mi E; pond, lake or river 0.15 mi S.
How Weeki Wachee Gardens ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 56th | 54th | 8th | 48th |
| Florida | 50th | 27th | 34th | 69th |
| Southern Coastal Plain | 48th | 16th | 33rd | 73rd |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 78% 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 Weeki Wachee Gardens: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Bayport 1 mi · Pine Island 3 mi · North Weeki Wachee 4 mi · Timber Pines 5 mi · Hernando Beach 5 mi · High Point 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 Weeki Wachee Gardens (28.5373, -82.6231); 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.