city in Tennessee
Honey bee forage in Belle Meade, Tennessee
Estimated forage here is better than about 92% of sites in Tennessee. Against other Tennessee sites it stands out most in spring (100th percentile) and lowest in fall (67th). Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer), 0.51 mi SW.
When is the honey flow in Belle Meade?
- First forage: Feb 1 (dandelion)
- Main flow: Mar 1 to May 31, peaking early Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jun 16 to Jun 30 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Belle Meade, 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 Apr 2.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; 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; 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; 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
No rated bee crops within about 3.7 miles of the town center. The forage here is wild plants, trees and gardens.
The land and water around Belle Meade
Mostly: Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns); Southern Interior Low Plateau Dry-Mesic Oak Forest; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.51 mi SW; pond, lake or river 0.53 mi SW.
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.
How Belle Meade ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 90th | 98th | 65th | 39th |
| Tennessee | 92nd | 100th | 76th | 67th |
| Interior Plateau | 97th | 100th | 62nd | 67th |
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 Belle Meade: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Forest Hills 2 mi · Oak Hill 4 mi · Berry Hill 5 mi · Brentwood 9 mi · Pegram 11 mi · Franklin 13 mi
All towns in Tennessee · 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 Belle Meade (36.0994, -86.8563); 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.