community in Maryland
Honey bee forage in Deal Island, Maryland
Estimated forage here is better than about 9% of sites in Maryland. Against other Maryland sites it stands out most in fall (96th percentile) and lowest in summer (10th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 0.4 mi S, grown 3 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 0.4 mi S, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Deal Island?
- First forage: Feb 16 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Mar 16 to Jul 15, peaking early Apr (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Aug 1 to Aug 31 (fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Deal Island, 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), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, native wildflowers; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers; amber
- Whole season (March to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; 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
- Corn: about 4 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi S, blooms early Jun – early Jul (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 2 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi S, blooms late May – late Jul (grown 1 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 Deal Island
Mostly: Open water; Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Tidal Salt Marsh; Open Water.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0 mi S; pond, lake or river 0.11 mi NE.
How Deal Island ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 46th | 68th | 43rd | 63rd |
| Maryland | 9th | 33rd | 10th | 96th |
| Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain | 13th | 20th | 47th | 98th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 60% 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 Deal Island: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Chance 2 mi · Dames Quarter 3 mi · Waterview 7 mi · Fairmount 7 mi · Frenchtown-Rumbly 7 mi · Nanticoke Acres 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 Deal Island (38.1528, -75.94); 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.