community in South Carolina
Honey bee forage in Slater-Marietta, South Carolina
Estimated forage here is better than about 59% of sites in South Carolina. Against other South Carolina sites it stands out most in spring (70th percentile) and lowest in fall (54th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.7 mi SE, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 1.0 mi S, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Slater-Marietta?
- First forage: Jan 16 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Feb 16 to May 31, peaking late Mar (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Season ends: Aug 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Slater-Marietta, 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 24.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs, early trees (maple, willow, poplar); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- 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, summer-flowering shrubs, early trees (maple, willow, poplar); 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
- Soybeans: about 9 acres in a typical year, nearest 1 mi SE, blooms early May – early Jul (grown 4 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 Slater-Marietta
Mostly: Southern Piedmont Dry Oak Forest; Southern Appalachian Oak Forest; Southern Appalachian Low-Elevation Pine Forest.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.08 mi E; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.32 mi SE.
How Slater-Marietta ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 63rd | 89th | 32nd | 16th |
| South Carolina | 59th | 70th | 66th | 54th |
| Piedmont | 67th | 73rd | 51st | 75th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 72% 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 Slater-Marietta: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Travelers Rest 6 mi · Tigerville 7 mi · The Cliffs Valley 8 mi · Dacusville 8 mi · Caesars Head 9 mi · Sans Souci 11 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 Slater-Marietta (35.0375, -82.4909); 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.