community in Texas
Honey bee forage in Lackland AFB, Texas
Estimated forage here is better than about 85% of sites in Texas. Against other Texas sites it stands out most in summer (75th percentile) and lowest in fall (53rd). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 1.2 mi E, grown 3 of the last 5 years); sorghum (nearest 2.7 mi N, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Lackland AFB?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jan 16 to Apr 30, peaking late Feb (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jun 1 to Jul 15 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers)
- Season ends: Dec 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Lackland AFB, 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 Feb 18.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); amber
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, 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
- Corn: about 25 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.2 mi E, blooms late Apr – late May (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Sorghum: about 30 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.7 mi N, blooms late Apr – late May (grown 3 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 Lackland AFB
Mostly: Developed, medium intensity; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, high intensity (paved).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.21 mi N; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.64 mi E.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 95% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Lackland AFB ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 76th | 78th | 33rd | 43rd |
| Texas | 85th | 61st | 75th | 53rd |
| Texas Blackland Prairies | 60th | 13th | 57th | 79th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
The national forage map around Lackland AFB: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Macdona 7 mi · Leon Valley 8 mi · San Antonio 8 mi · Von Ormy 8 mi · Balcones Heights 8 mi · Olmos Park 10 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 Lackland AFB (29.3866, -98.6179); 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.