town in Alabama

Honey bee forage in Rosa, Alabama

Estimated forage here is better than about 72% of sites in Alabama. Spring, summer and fall all rank about the same against other Alabama sites. Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 1.0 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 2.7 mi SW, grown 1 of the last 5 years).

When is the honey flow in Rosa?

  • First forage: Jan 16 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
  • Main flow: Feb 16 to May 15, peaking late Mar (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
  • Season ends: Aug 15
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Rosa, 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 20.

What the honey is made of

  • Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
  • Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers; 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): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); 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 2 acres in a typical year, nearest 1 mi N, blooms early May – early Jul (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
  • Corn: about 12 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.7 mi SW, blooms late May – late Jun (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 Rosa

Mostly: Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Allegheny-Cumberland Dry Oak Forest and Woodland; Southern Appalachian Low-Elevation Pine Forest.

Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.04 mi S; open water 0.06 mi S.

How Rosa ranks

Against random land inOverallSpringSummerFall
Continental US62nd89th27th22nd
Alabama72nd80th71st73rd
Southwestern Appalachians68th65th55th18th

Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.

About 83% 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 Rosa: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.

Nearby

Oneonta 3 mi · Cleveland 4 mi · Allgood 6 mi · Nectar 7 mi · Susan Moore 7 mi · Blountsville 7 mi

All towns in Alabama · 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 Rosa (33.9928, -86.5003); 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.