community in Montana
Honey bee forage in Glacier Colony, Montana
Estimated forage here is better than about 46% of sites in Montana. Against other Montana sites it stands out most in summer (55th percentile) and lowest in spring (16th). Biggest nearby bee crops: peas (nearest 0.8 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years); lentils (nearest 0.4 mi W, grown 2 of the last 5 years); chickpeas (nearest 0.2 mi E, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Glacier Colony?
- First forage: Apr 16 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion)
- Main flow: Jun 1 to Aug 15, peaking late Jul (alfalfa, lentils, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Fall flow: Sep 1 to Sep 30 (alfalfa, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), spotted and diffuse knapweed)
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Glacier 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 29.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), peas, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): alfalfa, lentils, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), 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), spotted and diffuse knapweed, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Whole season (March to November): alfalfa, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), lentils, peas; extra light amber, 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
- Peas: about 655 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.8 mi N, blooms early Jun – early Jul (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Lentils: about 66 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi W, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Chickpeas: about 48 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi E, blooms late Jul – late Aug (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 Glacier Colony
Mostly: Northern Rocky Mountain Lower Montane-Foothill-Valley Grassland; Northwestern Great Plains Mixedgrass Prairie; Winter Wheat.
Nearest mapped water: open water 0.02 mi S; pond, lake or river 0.27 mi S.
Things to watch
- Lots of crops with little or no bee value. About 52% of the land within 3 miles is in crops bees get little from (such as wheat and other grains).
How Glacier Colony ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 32nd | 12th | 67th | 85th |
| Montana | 46th | 16th | 55th | 52nd |
| Northwestern Glaciated Plains | 22nd | 14th | 31st | 55th |
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 Glacier Colony: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Zenith Colony 6 mi · Rimrock Colony 7 mi · Horizon Colony 8 mi · Santa Rita 10 mi · Hillside Colony 12 mi · Kevin 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 Glacier Colony (48.8304, -112.215); 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.