community in New Jersey
Honey bee forage in Highland Lakes, New Jersey
Estimated forage here is better than about 29% of sites in New Jersey. Against other New Jersey sites it stands out most in fall (57th percentile) and lowest in summer (34th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 3.4 mi W); alfalfa (nearest 2.6 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Highland Lakes?
- First forage: Mar 1 (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), dandelion)
- Main flow: Apr 1 to Jun 30, peaking early May (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Highland Lakes, 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 9.
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, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs, 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, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers; 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 18 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.4 mi W, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 5 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 1 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.6 mi N, blooms late Jun – early Sep (grown 1 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 Highland Lakes
Mostly: Northeastern Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest; Appalachian Northern Hardwood Forest; North-Central Appalachian Acidic Swamp.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0 mi S; open water 0 mi S.
How Highland Lakes ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 49th | 68th | 51st | 60th |
| New Jersey | 29th | 36th | 34th | 57th |
| Northeastern Highlands | 55th | 69th | 25th | 96th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 58% 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 Highland Lakes: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Vernon Center 2 mi · Upper Greenwood Lake 5 mi · Vernon Valley 5 mi · Hamburg 6 mi · Hewitt 7 mi · Franklin 8 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 Highland Lakes (41.1706, -74.4632); 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.