community in Virginia
Honey bee forage in Passapatanzy, Virginia
Estimated forage here is better than about 70% of sites in Virginia. Against other Virginia sites it stands out most in spring (79th percentile) and lowest in summer (59th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 1.4 mi W, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 1.7 mi SW, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Passapatanzy?
- First forage: Feb 1 (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), dandelion)
- Main flow: Mar 16 to Jun 15, peaking early Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jul 1 to Jul 31 (soybeans, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Passapatanzy, 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 11.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), early trees (maple, willow, poplar); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), dandelion, soybeans; light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), 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
- Soybeans: about 369 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.4 mi SE, blooms late May – late 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 Passapatanzy
Mostly: Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Hardwood Forest; Southeastern Native Ruderal Forest; Southern Atlantic Coastal Plain Mesic Hardwood Forest.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.17 mi SE; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.22 mi SE.
How Passapatanzy ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 63rd | 87th | 46th | 44th |
| Virginia | 70th | 79th | 59th | 74th |
| Southeastern Plains | 66th | 76th | 76th | 96th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 74% 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 Passapatanzy: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Fairview Beach 5 mi · Ferry Farm 6 mi · Grafton Village 6 mi · Leeland Station 6 mi · Chatham Heights 7 mi · Falmouth 7 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 Passapatanzy (38.2946, -77.3322); 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.