community in Virginia
Honey bee forage in Cascades, Virginia
Estimated forage here is better than about 96% of sites in Virginia. Against other Virginia sites it stands out most in fall (100th percentile) and lowest in summer (86th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 1.5 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 1.5 mi N, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Cascades?
- First forage: Feb 16 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Mar 16 to Jun 30, peaking late Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jul 16 to Aug 15 (clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Cascades, 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 17.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs, early trees (maple, willow, poplar); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs; 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 218 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.6 mi N, blooms early Jun – early Aug (grown 4 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 95 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.1 mi NE, blooms late Jun – late Jul (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 Cascades
Mostly: Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns); Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Central Appalachian River Floodplain Forest.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.33 mi SE; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.4 mi N.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 80% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Cascades ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 81st | 95th | 66th | 61st |
| Virginia | 96th | 97th | 86th | 100th |
| Northern Piedmont | 75th | 92nd | 35th | 74th |
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 Cascades: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Countryside 1 mi · Sugarland Run 1 mi · Lowes Island 2 mi · Dulles Town Center 2 mi · Kincora 3 mi · Sterling 3 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 Cascades (39.0475, -77.3868); 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.