community in Maryland
Honey bee forage in Burtonsville, Maryland
Estimated forage here is better than about 27% of sites in Maryland. Against other Maryland sites it stands out most in spring (77th percentile) and lowest in summer (19th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 2.5 mi N, grown 2 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 2.5 mi N, grown 3 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 2.4 mi NE, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Burtonsville?
- First forage: Feb 16 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Mar 16 to Jun 15, peaking late Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Fall flow: Jul 1 to Jul 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 Burtonsville, 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 17.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), summer-flowering shrubs; 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, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), garden flowers; 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 15 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.5 mi N, blooms late Jun – late Jul (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 15 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.5 mi N, blooms late May – early Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 20 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.2 mi NE, blooms early Jun – early Aug (grown 3 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 Burtonsville
Mostly: Northeastern Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns); Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.15 mi SW; open water 0.24 mi NE.
How Burtonsville ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 65th | 85th | 52nd | 54th |
| Maryland | 27th | 77th | 19th | 74th |
| Northern Piedmont | 22nd | 64th | 14th | 56th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 61% 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 Burtonsville: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
West Laurel 2 mi · Spencerville 3 mi · Fulton 3 mi · Fairland 3 mi · Scaggsville 3 mi · Cloverly 3 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 Burtonsville (39.1209, -76.9367); 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.