community in Montana
Honey bee forage in Gildford Colony, Montana
Estimated forage here is better than about 94% of sites in Montana. Against other Montana sites it stands out most in summer (98th percentile) and lowest in fall (8th). Biggest nearby bee crops: mustard (nearest 0.5 mi SE, grown 1 of the last 5 years); lentils (right here, grown 1 of the last 5 years); chickpeas (nearest 1.1 mi E, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Gildford Colony?
- First forage: May 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Jun 16 to Jul 15, peaking early Jul (mustard, lentils)
- Season ends: Sep 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Gildford Colony, 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 May 20.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): mustard, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red; white, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): mustard, lentils, alfalfa, chick Peas; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): alfalfa, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Whole season (March to November): mustard, lentils, alfalfa, dandelion; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
Nectar-source estimate (plants weighted by how much bees favor them), not a pollen analysis. Full honey estimate.
Bee crops within flight range
- Mustard: about 2,060 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi E, blooms early Jun – late Jul (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Lentils: about 175 acres in a typical year, nearest 0 mi , 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 Gildford Colony
Mostly: Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns); Mustard; Northwestern Great Plains Mixedgrass Prairie.
Nearest mapped water: open water 0.3 mi S; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.55 mi S.
Things to watch
- Lots of crops with little or no bee value. About 50% of the land within 3 miles is in crops bees get little from (such as wheat and other grains).
How Gildford Colony ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 75th | 14th | 89th | 57th |
| Montana | 94th | 20th | 98th | 8th |
| Northwestern Glaciated Plains | 65th | 18th | 73rd | 13th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
The national forage map around Gildford Colony: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Gildford 16 mi · Hingham 18 mi · Kremlin 18 mi · Rudyard 21 mi · Hilldale Colony 23 mi · Inverness 26 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 Gildford Colony (48.8025, -110.2843); 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.