village in New York
Honey bee forage in Skaneateles, New York
Estimated forage here is better than about 90% of sites in New York. Against other New York sites it stands out most in fall (94th percentile) and lowest in spring (56th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.8 mi SW, grown 4 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.8 mi W, grown 2 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 1.0 mi NW, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Skaneateles?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Aug 31, peaking early Jul (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, alfalfa)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Skaneateles, 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 14.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): alfalfa, soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; white, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, alfalfa, 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, alfalfa, soybeans; 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 111 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.8 mi SW, blooms late Jun – early Sep (grown 4 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 107 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.2 mi NE, blooms late Jul – early Aug (grown 4 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 Skaneateles
Mostly: Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Appalachian Northern Hardwood Forest; Open water.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.08 mi SW; pond, lake or river 0.14 mi S.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 53% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Skaneateles ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 76th | 64th | 80th | 75th |
| New York | 90th | 56th | 91st | 94th |
| Eastern Great Lakes Lowlands | 74th | 48th | 76th | 88th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 38% 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 Skaneateles: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Marcellus 5 mi · Melrose Park 5 mi · Elbridge 6 mi · Auburn 7 mi · Jordan 9 mi · Camillus 9 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 Skaneateles (42.9473, -76.4285); 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.