community in West Virginia
Honey bee forage in Shannondale, West Virginia
Estimated forage here is better than about 90% of sites in West Virginia. Against other West Virginia sites it stands out most in fall (98th percentile) and lowest in spring (59th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 2.1 mi W, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 2.1 mi W, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Shannondale?
- First forage: Feb 16 (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), dandelion)
- Main flow: Apr 1 to Jun 15, peaking late Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Fall flow: Jul 1 to Jul 15 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Shannondale, 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 24.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), summer-flowering trees (locust, linden); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), summer-flowering shrubs; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); 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 531 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.4 mi W, blooms early Jun – early Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 539 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.5 mi NW, blooms late Jun – 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 Shannondale
Mostly: Northeastern Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest; Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Northeastern Interior Calcareous Oak Forest.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.12 mi SW; open water 0.12 mi SW.
How Shannondale ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 69th | 89th | 54th | 56th |
| West Virginia | 90th | 59th | 94th | 98th |
| Blue Ridge | 90th | 59th | 96th | 99th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 68% 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 Shannondale: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Charles Town 5 mi · Bolivar 8 mi · Harpers Ferry 9 mi · Shenandoah Junction 10 mi · Middleway 11 mi · Shepherdstown 15 mi
All towns in West 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 Shannondale (39.2126, -77.8107); 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.