community in Virginia
Honey bee forage in Waterford, Virginia
Estimated forage here is better than about 97% of sites in Virginia. Against other Virginia sites it stands out most in spring (98th percentile) and lowest in summer (87th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 0.9 mi S, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.7 mi NW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); sorghum (nearest 1.2 mi SW, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Waterford?
- First forage: Feb 16 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Mar 16 to Jun 30, peaking late Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jul 16 to Jul 31 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Waterford, 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; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
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 17 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.9 mi S, blooms early Jun – early Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 8 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.7 mi NW, blooms late Jun – late 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 Waterford
Mostly: Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Northeastern Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest; Northern & Central Native Ruderal Forest.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.2 mi NW; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.25 mi W.
How Waterford ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 82nd | 96th | 68th | 53rd |
| Virginia | 97th | 98th | 87th | 96th |
| Northern Piedmont | 81st | 96th | 41st | 52nd |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 79% 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 Waterford: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Hamilton 4 mi · Hillsboro 6 mi · Lovettsville 6 mi · Leesburg 6 mi · Purcellville 6 mi · Round Hill 9 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 Waterford (39.1852, -77.6119); 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.