community in Maryland
Honey bee forage in Charlton, Maryland
Estimated forage here is better than about 77% of sites in Maryland. Against other Maryland sites it stands out most in summer (80th percentile) and lowest in spring (32nd). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.1 mi W, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.1 mi E, grown 3 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.3 mi NW, grown 4 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Charlton?
- First forage: Mar 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jun 1 to Aug 15, peaking late Jun (soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Sep 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Charlton, 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 22.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, alfalfa; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, likely to set over some months
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 110 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi NE, blooms early Jun – early Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 175 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi E, blooms late Jun – late Jul (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 Charlton
Mostly: Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Northeastern Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.45 mi W; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.47 mi W.
How Charlton ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 83rd | 68th | 86th | 43rd |
| Maryland | 77th | 32nd | 80th | 39th |
| Ridge and Valley | 97th | 30th | 97th | 47th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 50% 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 Charlton: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Pinesburg 2 mi · Clear Spring 2 mi · Big Spring 2 mi · Wilson-Conococheague 4 mi · Kemps Mill 4 mi · Williamsport 5 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 Charlton (39.6344, -77.8944); 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.