community in Florida
Honey bee forage in Westchase, Florida
Estimated forage here is better than about 50% of sites in Florida. Against other Florida sites it stands out most in summer (79th percentile) and lowest in spring (34th). Expect a dearth from early Oct to early Dec.
When is the honey flow in Westchase?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Jan 1 to Apr 15, peaking early Feb (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs)
- Dearth: Oct 1 to Dec 15
- Season ends: Dec 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Westchase, 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 2.
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, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); amber
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), early trees (maple, willow, poplar); amber
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs; 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
- Oranges: about 4 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.5 mi N, blooms late Feb – early Apr
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 Westchase
Mostly: Developed, medium intensity; Central Florida Pine Wet Flatwoods; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.06 mi E; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.07 mi SW.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 57% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Westchase ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 57th | 57th | 17th | 46th |
| Florida | 50th | 34th | 79th | 65th |
| Southern Coastal Plain | 49th | 24th | 77th | 70th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 40% 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 Westchase: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Citrus Park 3 mi · Town 'n' Country 4 mi · Oldsmar 4 mi · Keystone 5 mi · Carrollwood 6 mi · Northdale 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 Westchase (28.0565, -82.6083); 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.