community in Maine
Honey bee forage in South Paris, Maine
Estimated forage here is better than about 86% of sites in Maine. Against other Maine sites it stands out most in fall (95th percentile) and lowest in spring (78th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 2.4 mi S, grown 1 of the last 5 years); blueberries (nearest 3.2 mi E).
When is the honey flow in South Paris?
- First forage: Mar 16 (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), dandelion)
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Jul 15, peaking late May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of South Paris, 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 May 22.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), summer-flowering trees (locust, linden); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, summer-flowering shrubs, dandelion, garden flowers; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September 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
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), summer-flowering shrubs; 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
- Corn: about 13 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.6 mi S, blooms late Jul – late Aug (grown 5 of the last 5 years)
- Blueberries: about 1 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.2 mi E, blooms early May – early Jun
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 South Paris
Mostly: Laurentian-Acadian Pine-Hemlock-Hardwood Forest; Laurentian-Acadian Northern Hardwoods Forest; Laurentian-Acadian Pine-Hemlock Forest.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.08 mi E; pond, lake or river 0.09 mi E.
How South Paris ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 52nd | 59th | 65th | 63rd |
| Maine | 86th | 78th | 79th | 95th |
| Northeastern Highlands | 63rd | 41st | 69th | 98th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 60% 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 South Paris: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Norway 3 mi · Oxford 5 mi · Mechanic Falls 9 mi · Turner 13 mi · Bridgton 14 mi · Casco 15 mi
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 South Paris (44.2178, -70.513); 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.