community in Maryland
Honey bee forage in Dames Quarter, Maryland
Estimated forage here is better than about 1% of sites in Maryland. Against other Maryland sites it stands out most in fall (99th percentile) and lowest in summer (4th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.6 mi N, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.6 mi N, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Dames Quarter?
- First forage: Feb 1 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Mar 16 to Aug 31, peaking late Apr (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), native wildflowers)
- Fall flow: Sep 16 to Oct 31 (fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster))
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Dames Quarter, 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 11.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), native wildflowers, early trees (maple, willow, poplar); extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); amber
- Whole season (March to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), native wildflowers; 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 5 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi N, blooms late May – late Jul (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 3 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi N, blooms early Jun – early 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 Dames Quarter
Mostly: Open water; Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Tidal Salt Marsh; Open Water.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0 mi S; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0 mi S.
How Dames Quarter ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 24th | 50th | 35th | 68th |
| Maryland | 1st | 10th | 4th | 99th |
| Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain | 2nd | 5th | 39th | 99th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 68% 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 Dames Quarter: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Chance 3 mi · Deal Island 3 mi · Waterview 5 mi · Fairmount 6 mi · Nanticoke Acres 6 mi · Nanticoke 6 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 Dames Quarter (38.1729, -75.89); 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.