community in Montana
Honey bee forage in North Harlem Colony, Montana
Estimated forage here is better than about 86% of sites in Montana. Against other Montana sites it stands out most in summer (94th percentile) and lowest in fall (18th). Biggest nearby bee crops: mustard (nearest 0.3 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years); lentils (nearest 0.1 mi E, grown 1 of the last 5 years); peas (nearest 0.3 mi E, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in North Harlem Colony?
- First forage: Apr 16 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), native wildflowers, dandelion)
- Main flow: Jun 16 to Jul 15, peaking early Jul (mustard, lentils, peas)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of North Harlem 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 17.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): mustard, peas, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), lentils; white, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): mustard, lentils, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); white, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), spotted and diffuse knapweed, green/yellow rabbitbrush; amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): mustard, peas, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), lentils; 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
- Mustard: about 196 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi NE, blooms early Jun – early Jul (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Lentils: about 738 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi E, blooms late Jun – late Jul (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Peas: about 580 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi E, blooms late May – early Jul (grown 2 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 North Harlem Colony
Mostly: Northwestern Great Plains Mixedgrass Prairie; Inter-Mountain Basins Big Sagebrush Steppe; Mustard.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.09 mi SW; pond, lake or river 0.16 mi N.
How North Harlem Colony ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 65th | 23rd | 85th | 67th |
| Montana | 86th | 43rd | 94th | 18th |
| Northwestern Glaciated Plains | 55th | 39th | 63rd | 25th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 30% 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 North Harlem Colony: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Harlem 4 mi · Fort Belknap Agency 11 mi · Zurich 13 mi · Hogeland 19 mi · Turner Colony 19 mi · Chinook 22 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 North Harlem Colony (48.5843, -108.7556); 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.