community in Texas
Honey bee forage in Ranchos Penitas West, Texas
Estimated forage here is better than about 13% of sites in Texas. Against other Texas sites it ranks highest in fall (37th percentile) and lowest in summer (8th). Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river, less than 0.1 mi away.
When is the honey flow in Ranchos Penitas West?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), native wildflowers)
- Main flow: Jan 16 to Mar 31, peaking early Feb (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Fall flow: Apr 16 to Apr 30 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, summer-flowering shrubs)
- Season ends: Dec 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Ranchos Penitas West, 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 8.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, summer-flowering trees (locust, linden); extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): rabbitbrush, garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), dandelion; dark 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, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), rabbitbrush, dandelion; 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 Ranchos Penitas West
Mostly: Tamaulipan Mixed Deciduous Thornscrub; Tamaulipan Calcareous Thornscrub; Unmapped.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.04 mi SW; open water 0.2 mi SW.
How Ranchos Penitas West ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 15th | 36th | 4th | 32nd |
| Texas | 13th | 12th | 8th | 37th |
| Southern Texas Plains | 63rd | 54th | 61st | 49th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 84% 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 Ranchos Penitas West: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Los Minerales 2 mi · Los Corralitos 4 mi · Laredo 11 mi · Botines 11 mi · Bonanza Hills 12 mi · Los Veteranos II 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 Ranchos Penitas West (27.6745, -99.6035); 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.