community in Massachusetts
Honey bee forage in Cochituate, Massachusetts
Estimated forage here is better than about 99% of sites in Massachusetts. Spring, summer and fall all rank about the same against other Massachusetts sites. Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow, 0.15 mi SE.
When is the honey flow in Cochituate?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Apr 1 to Jul 15, peaking early May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Cochituate, 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 May 7.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), garden flowers; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, 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
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 Cochituate
Mostly: Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns); Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Central Appalachian Dry Oak-Pine Forest.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.15 mi SE; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.22 mi SE.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 76% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Cochituate ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 78th | 86th | 72nd | 74th |
| Massachusetts | 99th | 98th | 98th | 96th |
| Northeastern Coastal Zone | 96th | 96th | 94th | 95th |
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 Cochituate: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Wellesley 4 mi · Framingham 4 mi · Needham 6 mi · Waltham 7 mi · Dover 7 mi · Newton 7 mi
All towns in Massachusetts · National map · How the scoring works
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 Cochituate (42.3277, -71.3523); 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.