borough in Pennsylvania
Honey bee forage in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
Estimated forage here is better than about 92% of sites in Pennsylvania. Against other Pennsylvania sites it stands out most in fall (98th percentile) and lowest in summer (85th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 1.1 mi S, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.8 mi E, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Mechanicsburg?
- First forage: Mar 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Apr 1 to Jul 31, peaking late Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Aug 16 to Sep 15 (garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Mechanicsburg, 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 27.
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, garden flowers, dandelion, soybeans; 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; 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, 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 90 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.1 mi S, blooms early Jun – late Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 100 acres in a typical year, nearest 1 mi S, blooms late Jun – late Jul (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 Mechanicsburg
Mostly: Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, medium intensity; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns).
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.45 mi N; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.85 mi SE.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 94% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Mechanicsburg ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 80th | 82nd | 76th | 69th |
| Pennsylvania | 92nd | 91st | 85th | 98th |
| Ridge and Valley | 93rd | 63rd | 90th | 99th |
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 Mechanicsburg: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Shiremanstown 3 mi · New Kingstown 4 mi · Messiah College 4 mi · Camp Hill 5 mi · Lower Allen 6 mi · Lemoyne 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 Mechanicsburg (40.2114, -77.0059); 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.