city in Maryland
Honey bee forage in Laurel, Maryland
Estimated forage here is better than about 32% of sites in Maryland. Against other Maryland sites it stands out most in fall (88th percentile) and lowest in summer (34th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 3.4 mi SW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 3.7 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Laurel?
- First forage: Feb 16 (dandelion)
- Main flow: Mar 16 to Jun 30, peaking late Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jul 16 to Aug 31 (garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Laurel, 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 18.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs, garden flowers; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs; 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 5 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.4 mi SW, blooms early Jun – early Aug (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 2 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.7 mi N, blooms late Jun – 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 Laurel
Mostly: Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, medium intensity; Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Hardwood Forest.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.25 mi SW; pond, lake or river 0.27 mi S.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 97% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Laurel ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 68th | 81st | 62nd | 60th |
| Maryland | 32nd | 68th | 34th | 88th |
| Southeastern Plains | 72nd | 66th | 86th | 100th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
The national forage map around Laurel: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
West Laurel 2 mi · Konterra 2 mi · North Laurel 2 mi · South Laurel 2 mi · Maryland City 3 mi · Scaggsville 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 Laurel (39.0951, -76.8612); 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.