city in Texas
Honey bee forage in Santa Fe, Texas
Estimated forage here is better than about 100% of sites in Texas. Against other Texas sites it stands out most in spring (90th percentile) and lowest in fall (44th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 2.1 mi NE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 2.8 mi NE, grown 1 of the last 5 years); sorghum (nearest 3.1 mi SW, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Santa Fe?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jan 16 to Apr 15, peaking late Feb (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jun 1 to Jun 30 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers)
- Season ends: Dec 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Santa Fe, 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 14.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), garden flowers; 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, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); 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
- Soybeans: about 6 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.1 mi NE, blooms early Apr – early Jun (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 5 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.8 mi NE, blooms late Apr – late May (grown 1 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 Santa Fe
Mostly: Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns); Western Warm Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.04 mi NE; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.35 mi S.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 90% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Santa Fe ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 89th | 92nd | 36th | 36th |
| Texas | 100th | 90th | 81st | 44th |
| Western Gulf Coastal Plain | 99th | 87th | 88th | 61st |
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 Santa Fe: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Dickinson 5 mi · La Marque 7 mi · League City 7 mi · Hillcrest Village 7 mi · Alvin 8 mi · Hitchcock 9 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 Santa Fe (29.3876, -95.1015); 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.