community in Pennsylvania
Honey bee forage in Lucerne Mines, Pennsylvania
Estimated forage here is better than about 59% of sites in Pennsylvania. Against other Pennsylvania sites it stands out most in spring (81st percentile) and lowest in fall (49th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 1.5 mi N, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.7 mi W, grown 2 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.7 mi W, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Lucerne Mines?
- First forage: Feb 16 (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), dandelion)
- Main flow: Apr 1 to Jul 15, peaking early May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Fall flow: Aug 1 to Aug 15 (soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Lucerne Mines, 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 Apr 29.
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, soybeans, 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, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), dandelion; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): 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
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 79 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.5 mi N, blooms early Jun – late Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 29 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi NW, blooms early Jul – late Jul (grown 3 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 Lucerne Mines
Mostly: Northeastern Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest; Appalachian Northern Hardwood Forest; Northern & Central Native Ruderal Forest.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.33 mi SE; open water 0.33 mi SE.
How Lucerne Mines ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 56th | 72nd | 58th | 51st |
| Pennsylvania | 59th | 81st | 51st | 49th |
| Western Allegheny Plateau | 19th | 11th | 70th | 79th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 60% 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 Lucerne Mines: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Homer City 1 mi · Graceton 4 mi · Coral 4 mi · Indiana 5 mi · Chevy Chase Heights 6 mi · Black Lick 6 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 Lucerne Mines (40.5565, -79.1539); 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.