community in Virginia
Honey bee forage in Patrick Springs, Virginia
Estimated forage here is better than about 56% of sites in Virginia. Against other Virginia sites it stands out most in spring (85th percentile) and lowest in fall (7th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 2.8 mi W, grown 2 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 2.8 mi W, grown 2 of the last 5 years); grapes (nearest 3.1 mi S).
When is the honey flow in Patrick Springs?
- First forage: Feb 1 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Mar 1 to Jun 15, peaking early Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering trees (locust, linden))
- Season ends: Aug 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Patrick Springs, 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 7.
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 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, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), garden flowers; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); amber
- Whole season (March to November): 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
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 20 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.8 mi W, blooms early Jun – early Jul (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 9 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.8 mi W, blooms late May – late Jul (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Grapes: about 7 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.1 mi S, blooms early May – early Jun
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 Patrick Springs
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) 0.19 mi E; pond, lake or river 0.2 mi W.
How Patrick Springs ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 57th | 88th | 38th | 7th |
| Virginia | 56th | 85th | 39th | 7th |
| Piedmont | 58th | 70th | 63rd | 35th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 75% 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 Patrick Springs: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Stuart 4 mi · Meadows of Dan 13 mi · Horse Pasture 14 mi · Bassett 15 mi · Fieldale 15 mi · Stanleytown 16 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 Patrick Springs (36.6343, -80.1985); 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.