community in New York
Honey bee forage in Gordon Heights, New York
Estimated forage here is better than about 96% of sites in New York. Against other New York sites it stands out most in spring (99th percentile) and lowest in summer (75th). Biggest nearby bee crops: apples (nearest 3.2 mi N); corn (nearest 3.0 mi SE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); popcorn and ornamental corn (nearest 3.7 mi SE, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Gordon Heights?
- First forage: Mar 1 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Apr 1 to Jun 30, peaking early May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jul 16 to Aug 15 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Gordon Heights, 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 2.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): 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
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, summer-flowering shrubs; 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, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, 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
- Apples: about 4 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.2 mi N, blooms late Apr – early May
- Corn: about 4 acres in a typical year, nearest 3 mi SE, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Popcorn and ornamental corn: about 2 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.7 mi SE, blooms early Jul – early Aug (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 Gordon Heights
Mostly: Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Pitch Pine Barrens; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns).
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.31 mi E; open water 0.49 mi NE.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 65% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Gordon Heights ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 81st | 90th | 72nd | 77th |
| New York | 96th | 99th | 75th | 96th |
| Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens | 83rd | 89th | 74th | 93rd |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 40% 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 Gordon Heights: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Middle Island 2 mi · Coram 3 mi · Yaphank 3 mi · Medford 3 mi · Farmingville 4 mi · Selden 4 mi
All towns in New York · 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 Gordon Heights (40.8636, -72.9621); 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.