community in Pennsylvania
Honey bee forage in Natrona, Pennsylvania
Estimated forage here is better than about 63% of sites in Pennsylvania. Against other Pennsylvania sites it stands out most in fall (86th percentile) and lowest in summer (54th). Biggest nearby bee crops: alfalfa (nearest 0.9 mi SE, grown 4 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 2.5 mi NE, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Natrona?
- First forage: Feb 16 (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 Sep 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 Natrona, 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), garden flowers; 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, 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, early trees (maple, willow, poplar); 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
- Alfalfa: about 22 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi SE, blooms early Jun – late Aug (grown 4 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 8 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.5 mi NE, blooms early Jul – 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 Natrona
Mostly: South-Central Interior Mesophytic Forest; Appalachian Northern Hardwood Forest; Northeastern Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.14 mi SE; open water 0.14 mi SE.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 77% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Natrona ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 58th | 73rd | 60th | 61st |
| Pennsylvania | 63rd | 81st | 54th | 86th |
| Western Allegheny Plateau | 28th | 11th | 72nd | 97th |
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 Natrona: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Natrona Heights 1 mi · Brackenridge 1 mi · Lower Burrell 2 mi · Tarentum 2 mi · New Kensington 3 mi · Arnold 3 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 Natrona (40.6119, -79.7225); 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.