community in Texas
Honey bee forage in Marathon, Texas
Estimated forage here is better than about 12% of sites in Texas. Against other Texas sites it stands out most in fall (73rd percentile) and lowest in spring (17th). Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer), 0.41 mi W.
When is the honey flow in Marathon?
- First forage: Jan 16 (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 Oct 31 (fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), rabbitbrush)
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Marathon, 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): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), native wildflowers, summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), clovers: white, alsike and red; 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), rabbitbrush, garden flowers; amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), rabbitbrush; amber
- Whole season (March to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), native wildflowers, summer-flowering trees (locust, linden); 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 Marathon
Mostly: Chihuahuan Mixed Desert and Thornscrub; Apacherian-Chihuahuan Semi-Desert Shrub-Steppe; Chihuahuan Loamy Plains Desert Grassland.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.41 mi W; pond, lake or river 0.42 mi W.
How Marathon ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 14th | 43rd | 10th | 58th |
| Texas | 12th | 17th | 21st | 73rd |
| Chihuahuan Deserts | 58th | 56th | 63rd | 72nd |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 94% 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 Marathon: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Alpine 27 mi · Fort Davis 46 mi · Marfa 47 mi · Sanderson 50 mi · Fort Stockton 51 mi · Balmorhea 61 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 Marathon (30.2209, -103.2366); 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.