city in Tennessee
Honey bee forage in Bristol, Tennessee
Estimated forage here is better than about 63% of sites in Tennessee. Against other Tennessee sites it stands out most in spring (88th percentile) and lowest in summer (56th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 3.2 mi SE, grown 3 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 3.2 mi SE, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Bristol?
- First forage: Feb 1 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Mar 1 to May 31, peaking early Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Bristol, 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 7.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), summer-flowering shrubs; 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, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); 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): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), 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
- Corn: about 9 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.2 mi SE, blooms early Jun – early Jul (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 1 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.2 mi SE, blooms late May – late 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 Bristol
Mostly: Southern Appalachian Oak Forest; Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.09 mi N; open water 0.1 mi N.
How Bristol ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 75th | 96th | 47th | 44th |
| Tennessee | 63rd | 88th | 56th | 85th |
| Ridge and Valley | 86th | 95th | 59th | 53rd |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 55% 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 Bristol: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Walnut Hill 3 mi · Blountville 6 mi · Bluff City 8 mi · Hunter 11 mi · Biltmore 13 mi · Orebank 14 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 Bristol (36.5585, -82.217); 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.