community in Texas
Honey bee forage in Buchanan Dam, Texas
Estimated forage here is better than about 17% of sites in Texas. Against other Texas sites it stands out most in fall (76th percentile) and lowest in spring (23rd). Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer), 0.12 mi SW.
When is the honey flow in Buchanan Dam?
- First forage: Jan 1 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), native wildflowers, dandelion)
- Main flow: Feb 1 to May 15, peaking early Mar (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), native wildflowers)
- Fall flow: Jun 1 to Jun 15 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Buchanan Dam, 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 2.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), native wildflowers, summer-flowering shrubs, summer-flowering trees (locust, linden); 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); 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), native wildflowers, summer-flowering shrubs; 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 Buchanan Dam
Mostly: Open water; Edwards Plateau Limestone Shrubland; Llano Uplift Acidic Forest and Woodland.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.12 mi SW; pond, lake or river 0.32 mi E.
How Buchanan Dam ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 21st | 51st | 13th | 61st |
| Texas | 17th | 23rd | 26th | 76th |
| Edwards Plateau | 2nd | below the 1st | 13th | 36th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 58% 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 Buchanan Dam: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Buchanan Lake Village 3 mi · Tow 5 mi · Kingsland 10 mi · Burnet 14 mi · Llano 14 mi · Highland Haven 15 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 Buchanan Dam (30.8157, -98.4527); 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.