community in Virginia
Honey bee forage in Bensley, Virginia
Estimated forage here is better than about 86% of sites in Virginia. Against other Virginia sites it stands out most in spring (92nd percentile) and lowest in fall (63rd). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 1.4 mi SE, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 1.4 mi SE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); sunflower (nearest 1.8 mi E, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Bensley?
- 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, garden flowers)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Bensley, 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, 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, soybeans; 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 101 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.4 mi SE, blooms late May – late Jul (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 82 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.4 mi SE, 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 Bensley
Mostly: Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns); Southeastern Native Ruderal Forest.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.13 mi SW; open water 0.13 mi SW.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 84% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Bensley ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 73rd | 91st | 58th | 41st |
| Virginia | 86th | 92nd | 75th | 63rd |
| Southeastern Plains | 79th | 85th | 84th | 94th |
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 Bensley: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Meadowbrook 2 mi · Bellwood 3 mi · Richmond 6 mi · Manchester 6 mi · Montrose 6 mi · Chester 7 mi
All towns in Virginia · 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 Bensley (37.4475, -77.4456); 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.