community in Virginia
Honey bee forage in Merrimac, Virginia
Estimated forage here is better than about 88% of sites in Virginia. Against other Virginia sites it stands out most in fall (98th percentile) and lowest in summer (77th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 0.7 mi NW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 1.0 mi NW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 2.5 mi W, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Merrimac?
- First forage: Feb 16 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Mar 16 to Jun 15, peaking late Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jul 1 to Jul 15 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Merrimac, 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 19.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), 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, garden flowers, 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, early trees (maple, willow, poplar); 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
- Corn: about 21 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.4 mi NW, blooms late Jun – late Jul (grown 4 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 5 acres in a typical year, nearest 1 mi NW, blooms early Jun – early Aug (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 Merrimac
Mostly: Northeastern Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Southern and Central Appalachian Cove Forest.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.31 mi W; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.33 mi S.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 56% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Merrimac ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 74th | 91st | 60th | 56th |
| Virginia | 88th | 92nd | 77th | 98th |
| Ridge and Valley | 83rd | 86th | 74th | 91st |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 44% 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 Merrimac: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Blacksburg 3 mi · Prices Fork 4 mi · Christiansburg 4 mi · Belview 5 mi · Plum Creek 6 mi · Fairlawn 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 Merrimac (37.1949, -80.422); 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.