community in Maryland
Honey bee forage in West Ocean City, Maryland
Estimated forage here is better than about 37% of sites in Maryland. Against other Maryland sites it stands out most in spring (85th percentile) and lowest in summer (25th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 1.9 mi SW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 1.9 mi SW, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in West Ocean City?
- First forage: Feb 16 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Mar 16 to Jun 15, peaking late Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jul 1 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 West Ocean City, 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 14.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), 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, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; 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 85 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.9 mi SW, blooms late May – early Aug (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 49 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.9 mi SW, blooms late Jun – late Jul (grown 2 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 West Ocean City
Mostly: Open water; Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Basin Swamp and Wet Hardwood Forest; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.06 mi S; open water 0.15 mi S.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 67% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How West Ocean City ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 71st | 89th | 57th | 52nd |
| Maryland | 37th | 85th | 25th | 67th |
| Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain | 50th | 75th | 58th | 94th |
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 West Ocean City: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Ocean Pines 3 mi · Ocean City 4 mi · Berlin 6 mi · Bishopville 8 mi · Whaleyville 10 mi · Newark 11 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 West Ocean City (38.3473, -75.1112); 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.