town in Virginia
Honey bee forage in Independence, Virginia
Estimated forage here is better than about 81% of sites in Virginia. Against other Virginia sites it stands out most in fall (97th percentile) and lowest in summer (69th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 2.0 mi W, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 2.0 mi W, grown 2 of the last 5 years); pumpkins (nearest 3.7 mi NW, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Independence?
- 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 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Independence, 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 22.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), summer-flowering trees (locust, linden); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), summer-flowering shrubs; 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 trees (locust, linden); 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 3 acres in a typical year, nearest 2 mi W, blooms early Jun – early Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 3 acres in a typical year, nearest 2 mi W, blooms late Jun – late Jul (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Pumpkins: about 3 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.7 mi NW, blooms early Jun – early Oct (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 Independence
Mostly: Southern Appalachian Oak Forest; Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Southern and Central Appalachian Cove Forest.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.13 mi SE; open water 0.48 mi SE.
How Independence ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 69th | 89th | 54th | 54th |
| Virginia | 81st | 88th | 69th | 97th |
| Blue Ridge | 90th | 60th | 96th | 98th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 73% 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 Independence: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Baywood 8 mi · Stevens Creek 11 mi · Fries 11 mi · Hilltown 12 mi · Galax 13 mi · Troutdale 17 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 Independence (36.6275, -81.1492); 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.