community in Texas
Honey bee forage in Homestead Meadows South, Texas
Estimated forage here is better than about 41% of sites in Texas. Against other Texas sites it ranks highest in spring (44th percentile) and lowest in fall (32nd). Biggest nearby bee crops: cotton (nearest 3.4 mi NE, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Homestead Meadows South?
- First forage: Jan 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Feb 1 to Apr 30, peaking early Mar (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Homestead Meadows South, 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 7.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), spotted and diffuse knapweed; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, rabbitbrush; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): rabbitbrush, garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); dark amber
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), garden flowers; 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
- Cotton: about 4 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.4 mi NE, blooms late Jun – early Aug (grown 2 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 Homestead Meadows South
Mostly: Chihuahuan Stabilized Coppice Dune and Sand Flat Scrub; Chihuahuan Creosotebush Desert Scrub; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns).
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 1.06 mi S; open water 2.19 mi NE.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 57% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
- No mapped water within a mile. Plan to provide water. Small ponds, ditches, troughs and pools don't show on these maps.
How Homestead Meadows South ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 44th | 70th | 19th | 28th |
| Texas | 41st | 44th | 38th | 32nd |
| Chihuahuan Deserts | 92nd | 88th | 89th | 17th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 69% 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 Homestead Meadows South: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Homestead Meadows North 3 mi · Butterfield 5 mi · Horizon City 9 mi · Sparks 11 mi · Agua Dulce 11 mi · Fort Bliss 13 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 Homestead Meadows South (31.811, -106.1643); 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.