community in Montana
Honey bee forage in Zenith Colony, Montana
Estimated forage here is better than about 39% of sites in Montana. Against other Montana sites it stands out most in summer (67th percentile) and lowest in spring (4th). Biggest nearby bee crops: lentils (nearest 0.1 mi SW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); peas (nearest 0.1 mi E, grown 1 of the last 5 years); chickpeas (nearest 0.1 mi SW, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Zenith Colony?
- First forage: May 1 (dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jun 16 to Aug 15, peaking early Jul (lentils, peas, chick Peas)
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Zenith 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 28.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): peas, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): lentils, chick Peas, peas, alfalfa; white, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): alfalfa, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), spotted and diffuse knapweed, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); extra light amber, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Whole season (March to November): lentils, peas, chick Peas, alfalfa; 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
- Lentils: about 492 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi SW, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Peas: about 439 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi NE, blooms early Jun – early Jul (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Chickpeas: about 227 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi SW, 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 Zenith Colony
Mostly: Northwestern Great Plains Mixedgrass Prairie; Barley; Winter Wheat.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.16 mi SW; pond, lake or river 0.3 mi N.
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 Zenith Colony ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 28th | 2nd | 74th | 57th |
| Montana | 39th | 4th | 67th | 7th |
| Northwestern Glaciated Plains | 17th | 1st | 41st | 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 Zenith Colony: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Glacier Colony 6 mi · Glendale Colony 9 mi · Rimrock Colony 11 mi · Horizon Colony 12 mi · Santa Rita 12 mi · Hillside Colony 14 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 Zenith Colony (48.8688, -112.3423); 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.