village in Louisiana
Honey bee forage in Athens, Louisiana
Estimated forage here is better than about 52% of sites in Louisiana. Against other Louisiana sites it stands out most in summer (74th percentile) and lowest in fall (59th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 2.8 mi W, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 3.1 mi SE, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Athens?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Feb 1 to May 15, peaking early Mar (clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jun 1 to Jun 30 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Athens, 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 10.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- 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, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs; 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 1 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.8 mi W, blooms late Apr – late Jun (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 1 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.1 mi SE, blooms early May – early 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 Athens
Mostly: Southeastern North American Temperate Forest Plantation; West Gulf Coastal Plain Pine Forest; Eastern Warm Temperate Pasture and Hayland.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.13 mi SW; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.15 mi SW.
How Athens ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 54th | 81st | 22nd | 32nd |
| Louisiana | 52nd | 67th | 74th | 59th |
| South Central Plains | 55th | 64th | 70th | 55th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 88% 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 Athens: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Gibsland 8 mi · Homer 10 mi · Arcadia 10 mi · Mount Lebanon 11 mi · Lisbon 13 mi · Dubberly 14 mi
All towns in Louisiana · 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 Athens (32.658, -93.0277); 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.