community in South Carolina
Honey bee forage in Seven Oaks, South Carolina
Estimated forage here is better than about 93% of sites in South Carolina. Against other South Carolina sites it stands out most in spring (96th percentile) and lowest in summer (83rd). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 1.3 mi SW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); cotton (nearest 3.3 mi E, grown 2 of the last 5 years); millet (nearest 3.1 mi NE, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Seven Oaks?
- First forage: Jan 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Feb 16 to May 15, peaking early Mar (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jun 1 to Jul 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 Seven Oaks, 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 11.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, 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, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); 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 4 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.3 mi SW, blooms early May – early Jun (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Cotton: about 4 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.3 mi E, blooms late Jun – early Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Millet: about 2 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.1 mi NE, blooms early May – early Jun (grown 1 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 Seven Oaks
Mostly: Southeastern Native Ruderal Forest; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.12 mi SE; pond, lake or river 0.24 mi N.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 83% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Seven Oaks ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 82nd | 96th | 43rd | 38th |
| South Carolina | 93rd | 96th | 83rd | 87th |
| Piedmont | 96th | 96th | 72nd | 96th |
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 Seven Oaks: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
St. Andrews 2 mi · Oak Grove 4 mi · West Columbia 5 mi · Irmo 5 mi · Lexington 6 mi · Springdale 6 mi
All towns in South Carolina · 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 Seven Oaks (34.0462, -81.1409); 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.