community in Tennessee
Honey bee forage in Castalian Springs, Tennessee
Estimated forage here is better than about 82% of sites in Tennessee. Against other Tennessee sites it stands out most in summer (84th percentile) and lowest in fall (10th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (right here, grown 2 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 0.6 mi S, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Castalian Springs?
- First forage: Feb 1 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Mar 16 to Jul 15, peaking early Jun (clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, dandelion)
- Season ends: Aug 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Castalian Springs, 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 4.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans, early trees (maple, willow, poplar); extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers; amber
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, dandelion; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
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 100 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi NE, blooms early Jun – early Jul (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 40 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.8 mi S, blooms late May – late Jul (grown 3 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 Castalian Springs
Mostly: Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Southern Interior Low Plateau Dry-Mesic Oak Forest; Northern & Central Native Ruderal Forest.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.03 mi NW; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.17 mi E.
How Castalian Springs ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 83rd | 94th | 76th | 13th |
| Tennessee | 82nd | 75th | 84th | 10th |
| Interior Plateau | 83rd | 76th | 79th | 8th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 67% 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 Castalian Springs: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Bethpage 6 mi · Bransford 8 mi · Gallatin 9 mi · Graball 9 mi · Westmoreland 12 mi · Oak Grove 12 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 Castalian Springs (36.4012, -86.3068); 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.