community in Florida
Honey bee forage in Whitfield, Florida
Estimated forage here is better than about 76% of sites in Florida. Against other Florida sites it stands out most in summer (94th percentile) and lowest in spring (52nd). Expect a dearth from early Oct to early Dec.
When is the honey flow in Whitfield?
- 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
- Fall flow: Jun 1 to Jun 15 (garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Dec 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Whitfield, 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 Jan 31.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers
- 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
- Corn: about 1 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.5 mi NW, blooms early Apr – early May (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 Whitfield
Mostly: Open water; Developed, medium intensity; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.13 mi NE; pond, lake or river 0.39 mi N.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 95% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Whitfield ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 78th | 66th | 27th | 45th |
| Florida | 76th | 52nd | 94th | 62nd |
| Southern Coastal Plain | 77th | 47th | 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 Whitfield: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Bayshore Gardens 2 mi · Desoto Acres 4 mi · South Bradenton 4 mi · West Samoset 4 mi · North Sarasota 5 mi · Desoto Lakes 5 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 Whitfield (27.4107, -82.5667); 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.