community in Virginia
Honey bee forage in Lake of the Woods, Virginia
Estimated forage here is better than about 76% of sites in Virginia. Against other Virginia sites it stands out most in spring (86th percentile) and lowest in fall (41st). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 1.4 mi SE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 1.3 mi E, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Lake of the Woods?
- First forage: Feb 16 (dandelion)
- Main flow: Mar 16 to Jun 15, peaking early Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jul 1 to Jul 31 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Lake of the Woods, 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 12.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), garden flowers; 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, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), garden flowers; 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 187 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.8 mi SE, blooms late May – early Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 32 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.3 mi E, blooms early Jun – early Jul (grown 2 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 Lake of the Woods
Mostly: Southern Piedmont Dry Oak Forest; Southeastern Native Ruderal Forest; Southern Piedmont Dry Oak-(Pine) Forest.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.12 mi NE; pond, lake or river 0.13 mi NW.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 55% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Lake of the Woods ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 66th | 88th | 53rd | 25th |
| Virginia | 76th | 86th | 67th | 41st |
| Piedmont | 72nd | 71st | 85th | 89th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 49% 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 Lake of the Woods: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Lake Wilderness 3 mi · Rhoadesville 10 mi · Stafford Lakes Village 12 mi · Spotsylvania Courthouse 13 mi · Unionville 13 mi · Brandy Station 13 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 Lake of the Woods (38.3338, -77.7565); 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.