community in North Carolina
Honey bee forage in Delco, North Carolina
Estimated forage here is better than about 59% of sites in North Carolina. Against other North Carolina sites it stands out most in fall (69th percentile) and lowest in summer (32nd). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.1 mi SE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.1 mi W, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Delco?
- First forage: Jan 1 (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion)
- Main flow: Feb 16 to Jun 15, peaking late Mar (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), summer-flowering shrubs)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Delco, 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 Mar 13.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), soybeans, 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): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers, dandelion; light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers; amber
- Whole season (March to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), soybeans, summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), 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 13 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi SE, blooms late Apr – early 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 Delco
Mostly: Southeastern North American Temperate Forest Plantation; Southeastern Native Ruderal Forest; Atlantic Coastal Plain Upland Longleaf Pine Woodland.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.07 mi N; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.12 mi NW.
How Delco ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 71st | 91st | 34th | 28th |
| North Carolina | 59th | 67th | 32nd | 69th |
| Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain | 50th | 81st | 38th | 67th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 71% 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 Delco: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Riegelwood 2 mi · Sandy Creek 5 mi · Northwest 5 mi · Sandyfield 6 mi · East Arcadia 7 mi · Bolton 10 mi
All towns in North Carolina · 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 Delco (34.3188, -78.2267); 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.