city in Virginia
Honey bee forage in Hopewell, Virginia
Estimated forage here is better than about 92% of sites in Virginia. Against other Virginia sites it stands out most in spring (97th percentile) and lowest in summer (72nd). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 2.1 mi W, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 2.2 mi W, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Hopewell?
- First forage: Feb 1 (dandelion)
- Main flow: Mar 1 to Jun 15, peaking early Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jul 1 to Jul 31 (garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Hopewell, 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 3.
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): garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, 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, 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 45 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.1 mi W, blooms late May – late Jul (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 95 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.9 mi NE, blooms early Jun – early 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 Hopewell
Mostly: Open water; Southeastern Native Ruderal Forest; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.19 mi S; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.35 mi SE.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 92% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Hopewell ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 77th | 95th | 57th | 45th |
| Virginia | 92nd | 97th | 72nd | 77th |
| Southeastern Plains | 85th | 93rd | 82nd | 96th |
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 Hopewell: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Enon 3 mi · Fort Gregg-Adams 4 mi · Prince George 5 mi · Colonial Heights 6 mi · Ettrick 8 mi · Petersburg 8 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 Hopewell (37.291, -77.2989); 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.