community in Massachusetts
Honey bee forage in Russell, Massachusetts
Estimated forage here is better than about 8% 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, 0.24 mi E.
When is the honey flow in Russell?
- First forage: Mar 1 (early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Jul 15, peaking late May (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), summer-flowering shrubs, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Russell, 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 14.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): early trees (maple, willow, poplar), summer-flowering shrubs, spring-flowering shrubs, clovers: white, alsike and red; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): summer-flowering shrubs, clovers: white, alsike and red, native wildflowers, dandelion; light amber, likely to stay liquid a long time
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): early trees (maple, willow, poplar), summer-flowering shrubs, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; 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 Russell
Mostly: Appalachian (Hemlock)-Northern Hardwood Forest; Appalachian Northern Hardwood Forest; Central Appalachian Dry Oak Forest.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.24 mi E; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.26 mi W.
How Russell ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 21st | 53rd | 37th | 26th |
| Massachusetts | 8th | 10th | 9th | 16th |
| Northeastern Highlands | 7th | 23rd | 3rd | 56th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 88% 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 Russell: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Huntington 3 mi · Blandford 4 mi · Westfield 7 mi · Chester 8 mi · Easthampton 11 mi · Holyoke 11 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 Russell (42.2039, -72.8619); 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.