community in Maryland
Honey bee forage in Whitehaven, Maryland
Estimated forage here is better than about 26% of sites in Maryland. Against other Maryland sites it stands out most in fall (53rd percentile) and lowest in spring (39th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.1 mi W, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.4 mi N, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Whitehaven?
- First forage: Feb 1 (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Mar 16 to Jul 31, peaking early Jun (soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), summer-flowering trees (locust, linden))
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Whitehaven, 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): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), soybeans, summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), early trees (maple, willow, poplar); 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); light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), garden flowers; amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), early trees (maple, willow, poplar); extra light amber, likely to set over some months
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 49 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi N, blooms late May – early Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 64 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi N, 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 Whitehaven
Mostly: Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Basin Swamp and Wet Hardwood Forest; Southeastern Native Ruderal Forest; Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Tidal Salt Marsh.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.06 mi E; pond, lake or river 0.12 mi S.
How Whitehaven ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 64th | 70th | 67th | 48th |
| Maryland | 26th | 39th | 45th | 53rd |
| Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain | 38th | 24th | 68th | 91st |
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 Whitehaven: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Mount Vernon 2 mi · Nanticoke 5 mi · Bivalve 5 mi · Jesterville 5 mi · Tyaskin 5 mi · Allen 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 Whitehaven (38.2698, -75.7947); 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.