town in Texas
Honey bee forage in Big Sandy, Texas
Estimated forage here is better than about 84% of sites in Texas. Against other Texas sites it stands out most in spring (93rd percentile) and lowest in fall (48th). Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer), 0.15 mi N.
When is the honey flow in Big Sandy?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Feb 1 to May 15, peaking early Mar (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Big Sandy, 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 8.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers; amber
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), summer-flowering shrubs; 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
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 Big Sandy
Mostly: West Gulf Coastal Plain Large River Floodplain Forest; Eastern Warm Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Southeastern North American Temperate Forest Plantation.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.15 mi N; pond, lake or river 0.22 mi W.
How Big Sandy ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 76th | 94th | 31st | 40th |
| Texas | 84th | 93rd | 72nd | 48th |
| South Central Plains | 84th | 88th | 88th | 76th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 73% 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 Big Sandy: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Hawkins 5 mi · Winona 7 mi · Gladewater 10 mi · Holly Lake Ranch 10 mi · Union Grove 12 mi · Warren City 12 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 Big Sandy (32.5857, -95.1125); 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.