community in Tennessee
Honey bee forage in Wildwood Lake, Tennessee
Estimated forage here is better than about 56% of sites in Tennessee. Against other Tennessee sites it stands out most in spring (75th percentile) and lowest in fall (32nd). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 1.0 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 1.0 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 1.7 mi W, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Wildwood Lake?
- First forage: Jan 16 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Feb 16 to May 31, peaking early Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Fall flow: Jun 16 to Jul 15 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Wildwood Lake, 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, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); 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): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); 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 22 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.7 mi E, blooms early May – late Jul (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 13 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.1 mi NE, blooms late May – late Jun (grown 3 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 Wildwood Lake
Mostly: Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Southern Ridge and Valley / Cumberland Dry Calcareous Forest; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.02 mi N; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.03 mi NE.
How Wildwood Lake ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 72nd | 94th | 38th | 25th |
| Tennessee | 56th | 75th | 43rd | 32nd |
| Ridge and Valley | 79th | 91st | 41st | 16th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 80% 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 Wildwood Lake: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
South Cleveland 4 mi · East Cleveland 4 mi · Cleveland 6 mi · Ocoee 8 mi · McDonald 8 mi · Conasauga 9 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 Wildwood Lake (35.0882, -84.8477); 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.