town in Alabama
Honey bee forage in Natural Bridge, Alabama
Estimated forage here is better than about 47% of sites in Alabama. Against other Alabama sites it stands out most in fall (83rd percentile) and lowest in summer (43rd). Nearest mapped water: open water, 0.13 mi E.
When is the honey flow in Natural Bridge?
- First forage: Jan 16 (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), dandelion)
- Main flow: Feb 16 to May 15, peaking late Mar (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Natural Bridge, 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 22.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion; 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): clovers: white, alsike and red, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), dandelion, summer-flowering trees (locust, linden); 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
No rated bee crops within about 3.7 miles of the town center. The forage here is wild plants, trees and gardens.
The land and water around Natural Bridge
Mostly: Allegheny-Cumberland Dry Oak Forest and Woodland; Southeastern North American Temperate Forest Plantation; Southern Appalachian Low-Elevation Pine Forest.
Nearest mapped water: open water 0.13 mi E; pond, lake or river 0.26 mi N.
How Natural Bridge ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 46th | 78th | 16th | 28th |
| Alabama | 47th | 57th | 43rd | 83rd |
| Southwestern Appalachians | 26th | 24th | 21st | 34th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 90% 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 Natural Bridge: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Lynn 4 mi · Haleyville 10 mi · Nauvoo 10 mi · Brilliant 11 mi · Eldridge 12 mi · Double Springs 13 mi
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 Natural Bridge (34.0922, -87.601); 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.