community in Tennessee
Honey bee forage in McDonald, Tennessee
Estimated forage here is better than about 37% of sites in Tennessee. Against other Tennessee sites it stands out most in fall (66th percentile) and lowest in summer (32nd). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 1.3 mi SW, grown 4 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 1.4 mi SW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); sunflower (nearest 2.7 mi NE, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in McDonald?
- First forage: Jan 16 (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), dandelion)
- Main flow: Mar 1 to May 31, peaking early Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of McDonald, 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): 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, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), 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): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); 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 23 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.3 mi SW, blooms early May – late Jul (grown 4 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 12 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.7 mi N, blooms late May – late Jun (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 McDonald
Mostly: Southern Ridge and Valley / Cumberland Dry Calcareous Forest; Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Southern Appalachian Low-Elevation Pine Forest.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.09 mi S; pond, lake or river 0.29 mi NE.
How McDonald ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 62nd | 88th | 32nd | 38th |
| Tennessee | 37th | 46th | 32nd | 66th |
| Ridge and Valley | 61st | 78th | 24th | 35th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 79% 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 McDonald: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
South Cleveland 4 mi · Ooltewah 5 mi · Collegedale 5 mi · Apison 7 mi · Wildwood Lake 8 mi · East Cleveland 8 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 McDonald (35.1088, -84.9853); 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.