community in Massachusetts
Honey bee forage in Ocean Grove, Massachusetts
Estimated forage here is better than about 45% of sites in Massachusetts. Against other Massachusetts sites it stands out most in fall (66th percentile) and lowest in spring (40th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 1.6 mi W, grown 4 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 1.4 mi SW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); pumpkins (nearest 3.1 mi NW, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Ocean Grove?
- First forage: Mar 1 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Apr 1 to Jul 15, peaking early May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Aug 1 to Sep 15 (garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Ocean Grove, 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 3.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, early trees (maple, willow, poplar); 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, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, 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
- Corn: about 12 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.6 mi W, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 4 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 4 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.4 mi SW, blooms early Jun – late Aug (grown 2 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 Ocean Grove
Mostly: Open water; Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Hardwood Forest; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.08 mi SW; open water 0.12 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 Ocean Grove ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 45th | 62nd | 52nd | 61st |
| Massachusetts | 45th | 40th | 47th | 66th |
| Northeastern Coastal Zone | 42nd | 36th | 46th | 61st |
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 Ocean Grove: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Somerset 2 mi · Fall River 6 mi · North Westport 6 mi · Smith Mills 12 mi · North Seekonk 12 mi · Taunton 13 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 Ocean Grove (41.7288, -71.2092); 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.