community in Virginia
Honey bee forage in Scotland, Virginia
Estimated forage here is better than about 58% of sites in Virginia. Against other Virginia sites it stands out most in summer (67th percentile) and lowest in spring (40th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.1 mi E, grown 4 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 1.2 mi NW, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Scotland?
- First forage: Jan 16 (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion)
- Main flow: Mar 16 to Jul 15, peaking late May (soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), summer-flowering trees (locust, linden))
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Scotland, 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 Mar 31.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), 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): soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), clovers: white, alsike and red; 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): soybeans, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), 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 44 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi E, blooms late May – late Jul (grown 4 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 122 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.2 mi NW, 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 Scotland
Mostly: Open water; Southeastern Native Ruderal Forest; Southern Atlantic Coastal Plain Mesic Hardwood Forest.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.02 mi S; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.2 mi NW.
How Scotland ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 58th | 76th | 52nd | 34th |
| Virginia | 58th | 40th | 67th | 50th |
| Southeastern Plains | 59th | 51st | 80th | 89th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 67% 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 Scotland: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Surry 4 mi · Williamsburg 8 mi · Claremont 10 mi · Rushmere 10 mi · Dendron 12 mi · Yorktown 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 Scotland (37.1811, -76.7965); 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.