community in Tennessee
Honey bee forage in Middle Valley, Tennessee
Estimated forage here is better than about 83% of sites in Tennessee. Against other Tennessee sites it stands out most in spring (99th percentile) and lowest in summer (61st). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 2.0 mi NW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 2.0 mi NW, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Middle Valley?
- First forage: Feb 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Mar 1 to May 31, peaking late Mar (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Middle Valley, 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 27.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs, garden flowers; 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); 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, summer-flowering shrubs; 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 2 acres in a typical year, nearest 2 mi NW, blooms early May – late Jul (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 3 acres in a typical year, nearest 2 mi NW, 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 Middle Valley
Mostly: Southern Ridge and Valley / Cumberland Dry Calcareous Forest; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns); Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.14 mi NW; pond, lake or river 0.17 mi W.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 71% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Middle Valley ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 84th | 97th | 51st | 42nd |
| Tennessee | 83rd | 99th | 61st | 79th |
| Ridge and Valley | 99th | 100th | 64th | 46th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 41% 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 Middle Valley: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Lakesite 3 mi · Falling Water 4 mi · Soddy-Daisy 5 mi · Harrison 5 mi · Mowbray Mountain 6 mi · Walden 7 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 Middle Valley (35.1907, -85.1975); 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.