community in Tennessee
Honey bee forage in Darden, Tennessee
Estimated forage here is better than about 79% of sites in Tennessee. Against other Tennessee sites it stands out most in summer (80th percentile) and lowest in fall (17th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.7 mi E); corn (nearest 0.9 mi W, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Darden?
- First forage: Feb 1 (dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Mar 16 to Jul 15, peaking late May (soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Season ends: Aug 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Darden, 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 28.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), summer-flowering trees (locust, linden); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), 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): soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion; 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 844 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi W, blooms early May – late Jul (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 189 acres in a typical year, nearest 1 mi NW, blooms late May – late Jun (grown 2 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 Darden
Mostly: Southeastern Native Ruderal Forest; East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Dry Upland Hardwood Forest; Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.02 mi E; open water 0.3 mi SW.
How Darden ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 81st | 93rd | 71st | 17th |
| Tennessee | 79th | 72nd | 80th | 17th |
| Southeastern Plains | 90th | 89th | 91st | 67th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 69% 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 Darden: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Chesterfield 3 mi · Parsons 6 mi · Decaturville 7 mi · Lexington 8 mi · Scotts Hill 8 mi · Wildersville 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 Darden (35.6384, -88.2261); 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.