town in Oklahoma
Honey bee forage in Sparks, Oklahoma
Estimated forage here is better than about 86% of sites in Oklahoma. Against other Oklahoma sites it stands out most in spring (84th percentile) and lowest in summer (60th). Biggest nearby bee crops: alfalfa (nearest 1.9 mi SW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 3.3 mi SE, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 3.2 mi SW, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Sparks?
- First forage: Jan 16 (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion)
- Main flow: Feb 16 to May 31, peaking early Apr (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jun 16 to Aug 15 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Sparks, 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): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar); extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; 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), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; 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
- Alfalfa: about 2 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.9 mi SW, blooms early May – late Jul (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 1 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.3 mi SE, blooms early May – late Jul (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 2 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.2 mi SW, blooms late May – late Jun (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 Sparks
Mostly: Crosstimbers Oak Forest and Woodland; Southeastern Great Plains Tallgrass Prairie; Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.16 mi NE; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.17 mi E.
How Sparks ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 77th | 94th | 43rd | 70th |
| Oklahoma | 86th | 84th | 60th | 65th |
| Cross Timbers | 93rd | 95th | 85th | 64th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 85% 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 Sparks: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Chandler 7 mi · Davenport 7 mi · Meeker 10 mi · Prague 10 mi · Warwick 12 mi · Kendrick 12 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 Sparks (35.6109, -96.8185); 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.