borough in Pennsylvania
Honey bee forage in Mount Gretna, Pennsylvania
Estimated forage here is better than about 63% of sites in Pennsylvania. Against other Pennsylvania sites it stands out most in spring (85th percentile) and lowest in summer (45th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 1.5 mi S, grown 3 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 1.7 mi S, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Mount Gretna?
- First forage: Feb 16 (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), dandelion)
- Main flow: Apr 1 to Jul 15, peaking early May (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Aug 1 to Aug 15 (soybeans, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Mount Gretna, 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): early trees (maple, willow, poplar), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), clovers: white, alsike and red, summer-flowering shrubs; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers; amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): early trees (maple, willow, poplar), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); 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 3,239 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.7 mi N, blooms early Jul – late Jul (grown 5 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 107 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.7 mi S, 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 Mount Gretna
Mostly: Northeastern Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest; Northern & Central Native Ruderal Forest; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns).
Nearest mapped water: open water 0.15 mi NW; pond, lake or river 0.16 mi NW.
How Mount Gretna ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 58th | 76th | 56th | 57th |
| Pennsylvania | 63rd | 85th | 45th | 76th |
| Northern Piedmont | 12th | 39th | 16th | 64th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 76% 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 Mount Gretna: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Mount Gretna Heights 0 mi · Timber Hills 1 mi · Quentin 3 mi · Cornwall 3 mi · Campbelltown 6 mi · Annville 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 Mount Gretna (40.2456, -76.4715); 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.