community in Rhode Island
Honey bee forage in Valley Falls, Rhode Island
Estimated forage here is better than about 92% of sites in Rhode Island. Spring, summer and fall all rank about the same against other Rhode Island sites. Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 2.5 mi NE, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Valley Falls?
- First forage: Mar 1 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Apr 1 to Jul 15, peaking early May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Valley Falls, 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 5.
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, garden flowers, dandelion, 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, summer-flowering shrubs; 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
- Corn: about 18 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.5 mi NE, blooms early Jul – early 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 Valley Falls
Mostly: Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Central Appalachian Dry Oak Forest; Developed, medium intensity.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.24 mi W; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.25 mi W.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 74% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Valley Falls ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 64th | 74th | 63rd | 67th |
| Rhode Island | 92nd | 87th | 93rd | 89th |
| Northeastern Coastal Zone | 78th | 75th | 75th | 79th |
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 Valley Falls: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Central Falls 2 mi · Pawtucket 3 mi · Cumberland Hill 5 mi · Providence 7 mi · Woonsocket 8 mi · East Providence 9 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 Valley Falls (41.9235, -71.3905); 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.