community in Virginia
Honey bee forage in Bland, Virginia
Estimated forage here is better than about 63% of sites in Virginia. Against other Virginia sites it stands out most in fall (93rd percentile) and lowest in summer (62nd). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 1.2 mi S, grown 4 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 1.9 mi SW, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Bland?
- First forage: Feb 16 (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), dandelion)
- Main flow: Mar 16 to Jun 15, peaking late Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Bland, 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 23.
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, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers; light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), 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
- Corn: about 8 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.2 mi S, blooms late Jun – late Jul (grown 4 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 14 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.9 mi SW, blooms early Jun – early Aug (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 Bland
Mostly: Southern Appalachian Oak Forest; Central and Southern Appalachian Montane Oak Forest; Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.09 mi NW; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.11 mi NW.
How Bland ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 60th | 83rd | 48th | 51st |
| Virginia | 63rd | 66th | 62nd | 93rd |
| Ridge and Valley | 57th | 64th | 61st | 76th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 75% 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 Bland: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Bastian 4 mi · Rocky Gap 10 mi · Wytheville 10 mi · Mechanicsburg 10 mi · Max Meadows 12 mi · Bluefield 13 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 Bland (37.0995, -81.1158); 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.