city in Georgia
Honey bee forage in Thomasville, Georgia
Estimated forage here is better than about 97% of sites in Georgia. Against other Georgia sites it stands out most in fall (90th percentile) and lowest in summer (75th). Biggest nearby bee crops: cotton (nearest 2.2 mi E, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 1.4 mi NW, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Thomasville?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jan 16 to Apr 30, peaking late Feb (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jun 1 to Jun 15 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Thomasville, 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 Feb 21.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs, garden flowers; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, cotton; 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
- Cotton: about 89 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.3 mi N, blooms early Jun – late Jul (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 2 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.4 mi NW, blooms late Apr – late May (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 Thomasville
Mostly: Southeastern Native Ruderal Forest; Southeastern North American Temperate Forest Plantation; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.21 mi NE; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.74 mi W.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 96% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
- Bee crops nearby that are often sprayed. Cotton: insecticides used on about 39% of surveyed US acres (2025). Figures are from USDA's Agricultural Chemical Use Survey, matched by crop type from the crop map. The survey counts any insecticide use in the crop year (not seed treatments) and doesn't say when; ask nearby growers about spray timing.
How Thomasville ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 80th | 85th | 34th | 38th |
| Georgia | 97th | 77th | 75th | 90th |
| Southeastern Plains | 89th | 73rd | 66th | 92nd |
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 Thomasville: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Ochlocknee 10 mi · Boston 12 mi · Coolidge 14 mi · Cairo 14 mi · Barwick 15 mi · Pavo 16 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 Thomasville (30.8394, -83.9788); 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.