community in New York
Honey bee forage in Harris Hill, New York
Estimated forage here is better than about 95% of sites in New York. Against other New York sites it stands out most in fall (98th percentile) and lowest in summer (84th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 2.5 mi N, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 1.7 mi NE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); buckwheat (nearest 3.5 mi SE, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Harris Hill?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Jul 15, peaking early May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Aug 1 to Sep 15 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Harris Hill, 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 12.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), garden flowers; 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, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, early trees (maple, willow, poplar); 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 6 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.5 mi N, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 3 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.7 mi NE, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Buckwheat: about 2 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.5 mi SE, blooms early Jul – early Oct (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 Harris Hill
Mostly: Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns); North-Central Interior and Appalachian Rich Swamp.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.1 mi S; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.41 mi NE.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 82% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Harris Hill ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 80th | 81st | 76th | 82nd |
| New York | 95th | 93rd | 84th | 98th |
| Eastern Great Lakes Lowlands | 86th | 91st | 60th | 97th |
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 Harris Hill: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Williamsville 3 mi · Clarence Center 3 mi · Clarence 4 mi · Depew 4 mi · Lancaster 5 mi · Cheektowaga 6 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 Harris Hill (42.973, -78.6793); 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.