city in Georgia
Honey bee forage in Royston, Georgia
Estimated forage here is better than about 95% of sites in Georgia. Against other Georgia sites it stands out most in spring (97th percentile) and lowest in fall (67th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 0.8 mi E, grown 4 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 1.5 mi E).
When is the honey flow in Royston?
- First forage: Jan 16 (dandelion)
- Main flow: Feb 16 to May 31, peaking late Mar (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jun 16 to Jul 15 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers)
- Season ends: Sep 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Royston, 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 Mar 18.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); amber
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
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 106 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.8 mi E, blooms late May – late Jun (grown 4 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 24 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.5 mi E, blooms early May – early Jul (grown 5 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 Royston
Mostly: Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Southern Piedmont Dry Oak Forest; Southern Piedmont Dry Oak-(Pine) Forest.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.35 mi SE; pond, lake or river 0.53 mi N.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 54% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Royston ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 77th | 95th | 40th | 17th |
| Georgia | 95th | 97th | 85th | 67th |
| Piedmont | 90th | 92nd | 69th | 77th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 57% 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 Royston: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Franklin Springs 2 mi · Canon 4 mi · Bowersville 6 mi · Eagle Grove 6 mi · Bowman 7 mi · Carnesville 9 mi
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 Royston (34.2866, -83.1108); 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.