city in Maryland
Honey bee forage in Aberdeen, Maryland
Estimated forage here is better than about 67% of sites in Maryland. Against other Maryland sites it stands out most in fall (93rd percentile) and lowest in summer (47th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.9 mi SW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.9 mi SW, grown 4 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Aberdeen?
- First forage: Feb 16 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Mar 16 to Jun 30, peaking late Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jul 16 to Aug 15 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Aberdeen, 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 Apr 19.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs, lindens / basswood; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, soybeans; 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
- Soybeans: about 320 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.6 mi E, blooms early Jun – early Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 37 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.3 mi NE, blooms late Jun – late Jul (grown 4 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 Aberdeen
Mostly: Northeastern Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns); Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.34 mi NW; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.42 mi SW.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 84% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Aberdeen ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 80th | 93rd | 68th | 62nd |
| Maryland | 67th | 91st | 47th | 93rd |
| Southeastern Plains | 88th | 89th | 90th | 100th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 32% 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 Aberdeen: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Havre de Grace 4 mi · Perryman 4 mi · Riverside 4 mi · Aberdeen Proving Ground 5 mi · Abingdon 6 mi · Perryville 7 mi
All towns in Maryland · 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 Aberdeen (39.5164, -76.1745); 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.