community in Virginia
Honey bee forage in Riverdale, Virginia
Estimated forage here is better than about 60% of sites in Virginia. Against other Virginia sites it stands out most in spring (74th percentile) and lowest in fall (37th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 1.3 mi NW, grown 3 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 1.2 mi S, grown 4 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Riverdale?
- First forage: Feb 1 (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Mar 1 to Jun 15, peaking early Apr (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Fall flow: Jul 1 to Jul 31 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Riverdale, 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 5.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, 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): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers; amber
- Whole season (March to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, 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 103 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.3 mi NW, blooms early Jun – early Jul (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 37 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.3 mi NW, blooms late May – late Jul (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 Riverdale
Mostly: Southeastern Native Ruderal Forest; Southern Piedmont Mesic Forest; Southern Piedmont Large Floodplain Forest.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.06 mi S; open water 0.18 mi NW.
How Riverdale ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 59th | 85th | 41st | 22nd |
| Virginia | 60th | 74th | 48th | 37th |
| Piedmont | 61st | 62nd | 70th | 85th |
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 Riverdale: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
South Boston 3 mi · Cluster Springs 5 mi · Halifax 6 mi · Mountain Road 7 mi · Scottsburg 8 mi · Virgilina 11 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 Riverdale (36.6748, -78.894); 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.