community in South Carolina
Honey bee forage in The Cliffs Valley, South Carolina
Estimated forage here is better than about 54% of sites in South Carolina. Against other South Carolina sites it stands out most in fall (86th percentile) and lowest in summer (29th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 2.0 mi SW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 2.0 mi SW, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in The Cliffs Valley?
- First forage: Jan 16 (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), dandelion)
- Main flow: Feb 16 to May 15, peaking late Mar (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of The Cliffs Valley, 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): early trees (maple, willow, poplar), summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers; amber
- Whole season (March to November): early trees (maple, willow, poplar), clovers: white, alsike and red, summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), dandelion; 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 2 mi SW, blooms late May – late Jun (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 1 acres in a typical year, nearest 2 mi SW, blooms early May – early Jul (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 The Cliffs Valley
Mostly: Southern Appalachian Oak Forest; Southern and Central Appalachian Cove Forest; Southern Appalachian Low-Elevation Pine Forest.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.22 mi SE; pond, lake or river 0.25 mi S.
How The Cliffs Valley ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 60th | 88th | 18th | 37th |
| South Carolina | 54th | 68th | 29th | 86th |
| Blue Ridge | 65th | 56th | 23rd | 28th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 81% 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 The Cliffs Valley: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Tigerville 6 mi · Slater-Marietta 8 mi · Caesars Head 11 mi · Travelers Rest 12 mi · Landrum 15 mi · Dacusville 16 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 The Cliffs Valley (35.1395, -82.436); 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.