community in Maryland
Honey bee forage in Odenton, Maryland
Estimated forage here is better than about 67% of sites in Maryland. Against other Maryland sites it stands out most in spring (88th percentile) and lowest in summer (52nd). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.4 mi SE, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.4 mi SE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); sorghum (nearest 0.8 mi E, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Odenton?
- First forage: Feb 16 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Mar 16 to Jun 30, peaking late Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jul 16 to Aug 15 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Odenton, 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 trees (locust, linden), summer-flowering shrubs; 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, soybeans; 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, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); 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 184 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi E, blooms early Jun – early Aug (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 200 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.8 mi E, blooms late Jun – late Jul (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Sorghum: about 9 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.8 mi E, 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 Odenton
Mostly: Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Hardwood Forest; Southeastern Native Ruderal Forest; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.16 mi SE; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.19 mi E.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 69% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Odenton ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 80th | 92nd | 72nd | 59th |
| Maryland | 67th | 88th | 52nd | 86th |
| Southeastern Plains | 88th | 86th | 92nd | 100th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 35% 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 Odenton: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Gambrills 3 mi · Crofton 4 mi · Fort Meade 4 mi · Severn 5 mi · Arden on the Severn 5 mi · Crownsville 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 Odenton (39.0663, -76.6938); 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.