community in Maryland
Honey bee forage in Naval Academy, Maryland
Estimated forage here is better than about 24% of sites in Maryland. Against other Maryland sites it stands out most in fall (64th percentile) and lowest in summer (27th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.3 mi SE, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 2.0 mi NE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); sunflower (nearest 2.2 mi NE, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Naval Academy?
- 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 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Naval Academy, 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 15.
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): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra 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 55 acres in a typical year, nearest 2 mi NE, blooms early Jun – early Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 37 acres in a typical year, nearest 2 mi NE, blooms late Jun – late Jul (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Sunflower: about 2 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.4 mi NE, blooms early Jun – early Aug (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 Naval Academy
Mostly: Open water; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns); Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.08 mi NE; open water 0.09 mi NE.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 79% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Naval Academy ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 62nd | 79th | 58th | 51st |
| Maryland | 24th | 60th | 27th | 64th |
| Southeastern Plains | 64th | 58th | 84th | 99th |
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 Naval Academy: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Annapolis 1 mi · Annapolis Neck 3 mi · Parole 4 mi · Highland Beach 4 mi · Arnold 4 mi · Cape St. Claire 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 Naval Academy (38.9848, -76.4826); 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.