community in Maryland
Honey bee forage in Mechanicsville, Maryland
Estimated forage here is better than about 37% of sites in Maryland. Against other Maryland sites it stands out most in spring (71st percentile) and lowest in summer (42nd). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.1 mi S, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.1 mi SW, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Mechanicsville?
- First forage: Feb 1 (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Mar 16 to Jul 31, peaking late Apr (soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, summer-flowering trees (locust, linden))
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Mechanicsville, 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 12.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), dandelion, soybeans; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), clovers: white, alsike and red; light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion; 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 12 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi S, blooms late May – early Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 19 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi SW, 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 Mechanicsville
Mostly: Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Hardwood Forest; Southeastern Native Ruderal Forest; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.32 mi E; open water 0.38 mi SE.
How Mechanicsville ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 71st | 82nd | 66th | 44th |
| Maryland | 37th | 71st | 42nd | 43rd |
| Southeastern Plains | 76th | 67th | 89th | 96th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 70% 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 Mechanicsville: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Charlotte Hall 3 mi · Golden Beach 5 mi · Benedict 7 mi · Hughesville 8 mi · Bryantown 10 mi · Eagle Harbor 10 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 Mechanicsville (38.4274, -76.7466); 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.