community in Virginia
Honey bee forage in Brambleton, Virginia
Estimated forage here is better than about 84% of sites in Virginia. Against other Virginia sites it stands out most in fall (99th percentile) and lowest in spring (76th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 2.4 mi SE, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 2.6 mi SW, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Brambleton?
- First forage: Feb 16 (dandelion)
- Main flow: Mar 16 to Jun 30, peaking late Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jul 16 to Aug 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 Brambleton, 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 18.
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, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- 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 7 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.4 mi SE, blooms early Jun – early Aug (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 10 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.7 mi SW, blooms late Jun – late Jul (grown 1 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 Brambleton
Mostly: Northern & Central Native Ruderal Forest; Developed, medium intensity; Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.09 mi NE; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.11 mi NE.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 90% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Brambleton ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 71st | 86th | 63rd | 57th |
| Virginia | 84th | 76th | 81st | 99th |
| Northern Piedmont | 36th | 66th | 27th | 63rd |
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 Brambleton: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Loudoun Valley Estates 1 mi · Broadlands 2 mi · Arcola 2 mi · Moorefield 2 mi · Stone Ridge 4 mi · Goose Creek Village 4 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 Brambleton (38.9802, -77.5328); 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.