community in Tennessee
Honey bee forage in Telford, Tennessee
Estimated forage here is better than about 81% of sites in Tennessee. Against other Tennessee sites it stands out most in spring (98th percentile) and lowest in fall (12th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.6 mi SE, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.5 mi W, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Telford?
- First forage: Feb 1 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Mar 1 to Jun 15, peaking early Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jul 1 to Jul 31 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Aug 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Telford, 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 6.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, soybeans; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); amber
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, 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
- Soybeans: about 13 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi SE, blooms late May – late Jul (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 15 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.7 mi SW, blooms early Jun – early Jul (grown 4 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 Telford
Mostly: Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Southern Appalachian Oak Forest; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.13 mi SE; pond, lake or river 0.15 mi E.
How Telford ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 83rd | 97th | 64th | 14th |
| Tennessee | 81st | 98th | 75th | 12th |
| Ridge and Valley | 98th | 99th | 80th | 5th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 72% 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 Telford: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Jonesborough 5 mi · Embreeville 8 mi · Erwin 11 mi · Johnson City 11 mi · Banner Hill 12 mi · Fall Branch 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 Telford (36.2534, -82.5478); 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.