community in Oklahoma
Honey bee forage in River Bottom, Oklahoma
Estimated forage here is better than about 73% of sites in Oklahoma. Against other Oklahoma sites it stands out most in summer (82nd percentile) and lowest in fall (31st). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 0.7 mi NW); soybeans (nearest 0.8 mi W, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in River Bottom?
- First forage: Feb 1 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion)
- Main flow: Feb 16 to Jul 15, peaking early Apr (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of River Bottom, 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 26.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, soybeans; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans; 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), clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, dandelion; 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
- Corn: about 932 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.7 mi NW, blooms late May – late Jun (grown 5 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 23 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.2 mi NW, blooms early May – early Jul (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 River Bottom
Mostly: Ozark-Ouachita Dry Oak Woodland; Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Open water.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.11 mi SW; pond, lake or river 0.11 mi SE.
How River Bottom ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 70th | 86th | 54th | 42nd |
| Oklahoma | 73rd | 72nd | 82nd | 31st |
| Central Irregular Plains | 2nd | 70th | 4th | 56th |
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 River Bottom: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Sand Hill 2 mi · Braggs 3 mi · Sour John 5 mi · Keefton 6 mi · Notchietown 9 mi · Webbers Falls 9 mi
All towns in Oklahoma · 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 River Bottom (35.6357, -95.2378); 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.