community in New York
Honey bee forage in Vassar College, New York
Estimated forage here is better than about 84% of sites in New York. Against other New York sites it stands out most in spring (91st percentile) and lowest in summer (66th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 1.6 mi NE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 1.8 mi NE, grown 1 of the last 5 years); clover and wildflowers (nearest 3.5 mi E, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Vassar College?
- First forage: Mar 1 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Apr 1 to Jul 15, peaking early May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Aug 1 to Aug 31 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Vassar College, 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 4.
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, 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, 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; 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
- Corn: about 6 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.8 mi NE, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 5 acres in a typical year, nearest 2 mi NE, blooms early Jun – late Aug (grown 2 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 Vassar College
Mostly: Appalachian Northern Hardwood Forest; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns); Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.02 mi N; pond, lake or river 0.21 mi SW.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 79% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Vassar College ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 72nd | 80th | 68th | 71st |
| New York | 84th | 91st | 66th | 90th |
| Northeastern Coastal Zone | 91st | 88th | 89th | 89th |
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 Vassar College: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Arlington 1 mi · Poughkeepsie 2 mi · Titusville 2 mi · Spackenkill 2 mi · MacDonnell Heights 3 mi · Red Oaks Mill 3 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 Vassar College (41.6871, -73.8923); 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.