community in Arkansas
Honey bee forage in Tumbling Shoals, Arkansas
Estimated forage here is better than about 36% of sites in Arkansas. Against other Arkansas sites it stands out most in fall (83rd percentile) and lowest in spring (43rd). Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow, 0.16 mi NW.
When is the honey flow in Tumbling Shoals?
- First forage: Jan 16 (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), dandelion)
- Main flow: Mar 1 to May 31, peaking early Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Tumbling Shoals, 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): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), summer-flowering shrubs; 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, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); 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, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), early trees (maple, willow, poplar); 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
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 Tumbling Shoals
Mostly: Ozark-Ouachita Dry-Mesic Oak Forest; Ozark-Ouachita Shortleaf Pine Forest and Woodland; Ozark-Ouachita Dry Oak Woodland.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.16 mi NW; pond, lake or river 0.18 mi NW.
How Tumbling Shoals ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 53rd | 82nd | 29th | 49th |
| Arkansas | 36th | 43rd | 44th | 83rd |
| Boston Mountains | 57th | 53rd | 63rd | 34th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 87% 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 Tumbling Shoals: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Heber Springs 5 mi · Wilburn 5 mi · Drasco 6 mi · Concord 10 mi · Pangburn 11 mi · Greers Ferry 11 mi
All towns in Arkansas · 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 Tumbling Shoals (35.5471, -91.9675); 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.