community in Massachusetts

Honey bee forage in North Plymouth, Massachusetts

Estimated forage here is better than about 73% of sites in Massachusetts. Against other Massachusetts sites it stands out most in fall (93rd percentile) and lowest in spring (50th). Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river, 0.2 mi N.

When is the honey flow in North Plymouth?

  • First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
  • Main flow: May 1 to Jul 15, peaking early May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
  • Fall flow: Aug 1 to Sep 30 (garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
  • Season ends: Sep 30
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of North Plymouth, 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 9.

What the honey is made of

  • Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
  • Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, dandelion, 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 North Plymouth

Mostly: Open water; Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Hardwood Forest; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns).

Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.2 mi N; open water 0.2 mi N.

Things to watch

  • Heavily developed. About 80% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.

How North Plymouth ranks

Against random land inOverallSpringSummerFall
Continental US59th66th65th72nd
Massachusetts73rd50th85th93rd
Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens40th36th53rd85th

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 North Plymouth: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.

Nearby

Plymouth 1 mi · Kingston 3 mi · South Duxbury 3 mi · Duxbury 5 mi · Green Harbor 6 mi · The Pinehills 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 North Plymouth (41.9753, -70.6806); 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.