community in New Mexico
Honey bee forage in Lake Sumner, New Mexico
Estimated forage here is better than about 62% of sites in New Mexico. Against other New Mexico sites it stands out most in spring (84th percentile) and lowest in summer (38th). Biggest nearby bee crops: alfalfa (nearest 0.6 mi N, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Lake Sumner?
- First forage: Feb 1 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), early trees (maple, willow, poplar), dandelion)
- Main flow: Mar 1 to Jun 15, peaking early Apr (summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), native wildflowers)
- Fall flow: Jul 1 to Aug 15 (fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Lake Sumner, 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 Mar 28.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), native wildflowers, dandelion; white, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), alfalfa; light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); amber
- Whole season (March to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), native wildflowers; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
Nectar-source estimate (plants weighted by how much bees favor them), not a pollen analysis. Full honey estimate.
Bee crops within flight range
- Alfalfa: about 8 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi N, blooms early May – late Jul (grown 3 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 Lake Sumner
Mostly: Western Great Plains Shortgrass Prairie; Western Great Plains Mesquite Shrubland; Apacherian-Chihuahuan Semi-Desert Shrub-Steppe.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.05 mi NW; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.05 mi NW.
How Lake Sumner ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 21st | 56th | 20th | 59th |
| New Mexico | 62nd | 84th | 38th | 44th |
| Southwestern Tablelands | 11th | 61st | 13th | 25th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 72% 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 Lake Sumner: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Fort Sumner 14 mi · Puerto de Luna 19 mi · Santa Rosa 27 mi · House 28 mi · Newkirk 31 mi · Pastura 33 mi
All towns in New Mexico · National map · How the scoring works
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 Lake Sumner (34.6236, -104.4022); 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.