borough in Pennsylvania
Honey bee forage in Ferndale, Pennsylvania
Estimated forage here is better than about 85% of sites in Pennsylvania. Against other Pennsylvania sites it stands out most in fall (97th percentile) and lowest in summer (69th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 0.9 mi SW, grown 3 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 0.9 mi SW, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Ferndale?
- 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 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 Ferndale, 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 1.
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): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, 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 14 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi SW, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 5 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi SW, blooms late Jun – late 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 Ferndale
Mostly: Northeastern Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest; Northern & Central Native Ruderal Forest; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns).
Nearest mapped water: open water 0.18 mi E; pond, lake or river 0.2 mi NE.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 70% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Ferndale ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 74th | 84th | 67th | 68th |
| Pennsylvania | 85th | 92nd | 69th | 97th |
| Central Appalachians | 99th | 43rd | 98th | 100th |
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 Ferndale: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Riverside 0 mi · Lorain 1 mi · Elim 1 mi · Southmont 2 mi · Dale 2 mi · Belmont 2 mi
All towns in Pennsylvania · 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 Ferndale (40.2905, -78.9198); 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.