community in New Mexico
Honey bee forage in Rivers, New Mexico
Estimated forage here is better than about 28% of sites in New Mexico. Against other New Mexico sites it stands out most in spring (52nd percentile) and lowest in fall (21st). Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow, 0.15 mi W.
When is the honey flow in Rivers?
- First forage: Feb 16 (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Apr 1 to Jun 15, peaking late Apr (spring-flowering shrubs, native wildflowers, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Fall flow: Jul 1 to Jul 15 (native wildflowers, summer-flowering shrubs, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Rivers, 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 Apr 19.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): spring-flowering shrubs, native wildflowers, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), summer-flowering shrubs; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): rabbitbrush, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), summer-flowering shrubs; amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): rabbitbrush, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); dark amber
- Whole season (March to November): spring-flowering shrubs, native wildflowers, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), rabbitbrush; 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
No rated bee crops within about 3.7 miles of the town center. The forage here is wild plants, trees and gardens.
The land and water around Rivers
Mostly: Colorado Plateau Pinyon-Juniper Woodland; Madrean Pinyon-Juniper Woodland; Southern Rocky Mountain Ponderosa Pine Woodland.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.15 mi W; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.19 mi W.
How Rivers ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 9th | 40th | 13th | 39th |
| New Mexico | 28th | 52nd | 23rd | 21st |
| Arizona/New Mexico Mountains | 40th | 60th | 32nd | 54th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 92% 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 Rivers: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Lower Frisco 2 mi · Middle Frisco 2 mi · Reserve 3 mi · Rancho Grande 5 mi · Cruzville 11 mi · Luna 14 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 Rivers (33.6746, -108.7795); 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.