community in Rhode Island
Honey bee forage in Hope Valley, Rhode Island
Estimated forage here is better than about 54% of sites in Rhode Island. Against other Rhode Island sites it stands out most in spring (59th percentile) and lowest in fall (47th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 2.4 mi NW); alfalfa (nearest 3.1 mi E, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Hope Valley?
- First forage: Mar 1 (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), dandelion)
- Main flow: Apr 1 to Jun 30, peaking early May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Hope Valley, 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 6.
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, summer-flowering shrubs, dandelion, garden flowers; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), dandelion, garden flowers; 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
- Corn: about 9 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.4 mi NW, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 5 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 13 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.1 mi E, blooms late 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 Hope Valley
Mostly: Central Appalachian Dry Oak Forest; Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Hardwood Forest; Central Appalachian Dry Oak-Pine Forest.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.06 mi W; pond, lake or river 0.06 mi E.
How Hope Valley ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 44th | 67th | 47th | 53rd |
| Rhode Island | 54th | 59th | 55th | 47th |
| Northeastern Coastal Zone | 40th | 51st | 32nd | 39th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 67% 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 Hope Valley: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Wyoming 2 mi · Hopkinton 5 mi · Carolina 5 mi · Ashaway 7 mi · Bradford 9 mi · Kingston 11 mi
All towns in Rhode Island · 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 Hope Valley (41.5141, -71.7206); 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.