community in New Jersey

Honey bee forage in Colonia, New Jersey

Estimated forage here is better than about 96% of sites in New Jersey. Against other New Jersey sites it stands out most in spring (99th percentile) and lowest in summer (82nd). Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer), 0.2 mi NW.

When is the honey flow in Colonia?

  • First forage: Mar 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
  • Main flow: Apr 1 to Jun 30, peaking late Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
  • Fall flow: Jul 16 to Aug 15 (garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
  • Season ends: Sep 30
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Colonia, 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 23.

What the honey is made of

  • Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
  • Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
  • Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
  • Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; 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

No rated bee crops within about 3.7 miles of the town center. The forage here is wild plants, trees and gardens.

The land and water around Colonia

Mostly: Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, medium intensity; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns).

Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.2 mi NW; pond, lake or river 0.33 mi SW.

Things to watch

  • Heavily developed. About 96% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.

How Colonia ranks

Against random land inOverallSpringSummerFall
Continental US86th96th74th72nd
New Jersey96th99th82nd94th
Northern Piedmont95th96th60th95th

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 Colonia: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.

Nearby

Iselin 1 mi · Rahway 2 mi · Avenel 2 mi · Menlo Park Terrace 3 mi · Woodbridge 3 mi · Fords 4 mi

All towns in New Jersey · 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 Colonia (40.5893, -74.3114); 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.