town in Tennessee
Honey bee forage in Smyrna, Tennessee
Estimated forage here is better than about 85% of sites in Tennessee. Against other Tennessee sites it stands out most in spring (99th percentile) and lowest in summer (73rd). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 1.8 mi NE, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 1.8 mi NE, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Smyrna?
- First forage: Feb 1 (dandelion)
- Main flow: Mar 1 to Jun 15, peaking early Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jul 1 to Aug 15 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Smyrna, 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 1.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; 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; 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; 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 43 acres in a typical year, nearest 2 mi NE, blooms late May – late Jul (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 29 acres in a typical year, nearest 2 mi NE, blooms early Jun – early Jul (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 Smyrna
Mostly: Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns); Southern Interior Low Plateau Dry-Mesic Oak Forest.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.12 mi SE; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.33 mi S.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 87% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Smyrna ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 85th | 97th | 62nd | 47th |
| Tennessee | 85th | 99th | 73rd | 90th |
| Interior Plateau | 88th | 99th | 58th | 91st |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
The national forage map around Smyrna: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
La Vergne 4 mi · Nolensville 8 mi · Walterhill 9 mi · Murfreesboro 10 mi · Rural Hill 10 mi · Gladeville 11 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 Smyrna (35.969, -86.5286); 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.