community in Virginia
Honey bee forage in Esmont, Virginia
Estimated forage here is better than about 20% of sites in Virginia. Against other Virginia sites it ranks highest in summer (43rd percentile) and lowest in fall (3rd). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.9 mi NE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 1.0 mi NE, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Esmont?
- First forage: Feb 1 (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Mar 16 to Jun 30, peaking early Apr (summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), summer-flowering shrubs)
- Fall flow: Jul 16 to Jul 31 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), soybeans, summer-flowering shrubs)
- Season ends: Aug 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Esmont, 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 10.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), summer-flowering shrubs, clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red; light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), summer-flowering shrubs, clovers: white, alsike and red; 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 289 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.5 mi SE, blooms late May – late Jul (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 57 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.4 mi NE, blooms early Jun – early Jul (grown 4 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 Esmont
Mostly: Southeastern Native Ruderal Forest; Southern Piedmont Dry Oak Forest; Southeastern North American Temperate Forest Plantation.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.08 mi SW; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.09 mi SW.
How Esmont ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 43rd | 73rd | 40th | 5th |
| Virginia | 20th | 27th | 43rd | 3rd |
| Piedmont | 28th | 21st | 68th | 20th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 86% 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 Esmont: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Scottsville 6 mi · Schuyler 6 mi · North Garden 10 mi · Yogaville 12 mi · University of Virginia 15 mi · Shipman 15 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 Esmont (37.8285, -78.592); 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.