community in Montana
Honey bee forage in Springwater Colony, Montana
Estimated forage here is better than about 11% of sites in Montana. Against other Montana sites it ranks highest in summer (35th percentile) and lowest in fall (12th). Biggest nearby bee crops: peas (nearest 0.3 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years); mustard (nearest 1.3 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (right here).
When is the honey flow in Springwater Colony?
- First forage: Apr 16 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion)
- Main flow: May 16 to Aug 31, peaking early Jul (peas, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), alfalfa)
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Springwater 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 22.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): peas, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), native wildflowers, dandelion; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): alfalfa, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), spotted and diffuse knapweed, peas; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): spotted and diffuse knapweed, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), alfalfa, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), peas, alfalfa, spotted and diffuse knapweed; 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
- Peas: about 298 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi N, blooms late May – early Jul (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Mustard: about 98 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.6 mi NE, blooms late Jun – late Jul (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 32 acres in a typical year, nearest 0 mi N, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 5 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 Springwater Colony
Mostly: Northern Rocky Mountain Lower Montane-Foothill-Valley Grassland; Inter-Mountain Basins Big Sagebrush Steppe; Barley.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.04 mi E; open water 0.08 mi E.
Things to watch
- Lots of crops with little or no bee value. About 37% of the land within 3 miles is in crops bees get little from (such as wheat and other grains).
How Springwater Colony ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 19th | 12th | 58th | 62nd |
| Montana | 11th | 17th | 35th | 12th |
| Northwestern Great Plains | 12th | 3rd | 53rd | 3rd |
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 Springwater Colony: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Harlowton 4 mi · Duncan Ranch Colony 13 mi · Shawmut 14 mi · Judith Gap 15 mi · Twodot 15 mi · Martinsdale Colony 24 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 Springwater Colony (46.4569, -109.7532); 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.