Edgewood Botanic Garden — a botanical garden in Marin County, California — is a rewarding subject for landscape photographers. It lies in or next to Muir Woods National Monument, so park hours, fees and rules apply. It sits roughly 1.4 km (0.9 mi) WSW of Mill Valley.
The Edgewood Botanic Garden is a small botanical garden of less than 1 acre (0.4 ha) on the southeastern side of Mount Tamalpais, in Mill Valley, Marin County, California. It is located at 436 Edgewood Avenue, near the intersection with Cypress Avenue in Mill Valley. The botanical garden is dedicated to the native plants of the region. It is not actively maintained currently. The native Coast redwood trees (Sequoia sempervirens) dominate the local landscape. It also has about ten species of other trees, either locally native or from other California Coast Ranges habitats.From the Wikipedia article “Edgewood Botanic Garden”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Edgewood Botanic Garden the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 301° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 76° in summer but only 29° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:15 AM | 90° E | 7:22 PM | 271° W | 52° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:49 AM | 59° ENE | 8:37 PM | 301° WNW | 76° | 14h 48m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:59 AM | 89° E | 7:09 PM | 271° W | 52° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:23 AM | 120° ESE | 4:55 PM | 241° WSW | 29° | 9h 32m |
Azimuth is measured clockwise from true north (90° = east, 270° = west). Computed for 2026; values change by less than a degree from year to year.
Golden hour & blue hour by month
Gardens are best on bright overcast days or early mornings when dew is fresh and the wind is calm.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:57 AM | 7:25 AM | 8:05 AM | 4:35 PM | 5:15 PM | 5:44 PM | 9h 50m |
| February | 6:34 AM | 7:01 AM | 7:38 AM | 5:13 PM | 5:50 PM | 6:17 PM | 10h 49m |
| March | 6:56 AM | 7:22 AM | 7:57 AM | 6:43 PM | 7:18 PM | 7:44 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:08 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:11 AM | 7:11 PM | 7:46 PM | 8:13 PM | 13h 11m |
| May | 5:31 AM | 6:01 AM | 6:38 AM | 7:37 PM | 8:14 PM | 8:43 PM | 14h 13m |
| June | 5:17 AM | 5:48 AM | 6:27 AM | 7:56 PM | 8:35 PM | 9:06 PM | 14h 47m |
| July | 5:30 AM | 6:01 AM | 6:39 AM | 7:55 PM | 8:33 PM | 9:03 PM | 14h 32m |
| August | 5:58 AM | 6:26 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:05 PM | 8:33 PM | 13h 38m |
| September | 6:27 AM | 6:53 AM | 7:28 AM | 6:45 PM | 7:20 PM | 7:46 PM | 12h 27m |
| October | 6:53 AM | 7:19 AM | 7:55 AM | 5:58 PM | 6:34 PM | 7:00 PM | 11h 15m |
| November | 6:24 AM | 6:52 AM | 7:30 AM | 4:21 PM | 5:00 PM | 5:28 PM | 10h 08m |
| December | 6:50 AM | 7:20 AM | 8:01 AM | 4:12 PM | 4:53 PM | 5:22 PM | 9h 33m |
Local time (America/Los Angeles), including daylight saving time. Golden hour runs from about −4° to +6° solar altitude, so the morning golden hour begins during blue hour, before sunrise.
Milky Way & night sky
From Edgewood Botanic Garden, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 23° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 7 (suburban / urban transition), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -1° | — |
| February | 5:08 AM – 5:28 AM | 0.3 | 13° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:15 AM – 5:45 AM | 1.5 | 19° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:20 AM – 5:00 AM | 2.7 | 23° | SE → S |
| May | 12:19 AM – 4:09 AM | 3.8 | 23° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:31 PM – 3:51 AM | 5.3 | 23° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:24 PM – 2:24 AM | 4.0 | 23° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:43 PM – 12:23 AM | 2.7 | 23° | S → SW |
| September | 8:49 PM – 10:19 PM | 1.5 | 20° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:01 PM – 8:21 PM | 0.3 | 13° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 1° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -19° | — |
Window when the galactic core is at least 10° high during astronomical darkness on the 15th of each month. Pick nights within a few days of the new moon. Plan exact nights with the Milky Way planner.
Estimated sky darkness: 7 Bortle 7 — Suburban / urban transition. The whole sky has a grey-white glow; the Milky Way is invisible to the eye. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 18.51 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 44% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (59%). September is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 67 | 69 | 76 | 80 | 87 | 88 | 78 | 85 | 94 | 84 | 78 | 65 |
| Low °F | 36 | 40 | 41 | 43 | 45 | 48 | 51 | 53 | 51 | 47 | 39 | 36 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.4 | 3.7 | 2.9 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 4.4 |
Monthly climatology for the surrounding 1° grid cell from NASA POWER (MERRA-2). Mountain sites can be colder and cloudier than the cell average.
Photography tips for this botanical garden
- Seasonal exhibits (orchids, tulips, cherry blossoms) draw crowds — arrive at opening.
- Kaleidoscopic and abstract images are great for flower close-ups — try the online kaleidoscope tool.
- A macro lens or close-up filter opens a world of detail — try a shallow aperture against a soft background.
- Many gardens restrict tripods or charge for photography; check the rules before you go.
- Backlit petals glow; position yourself so the sun is behind the flower.
- Bring a spare battery — cold weather and long exposures drain them fast.
Season: Spring bulbs and blossoms, summer perennials and autumn color; glasshouses offer winter subjects.
Suggested gear: Macro lens, Diffuser, Small reflector. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Permits, drones & access
National Park Service rules. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones: Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Edgewood Botanic Garden, closest first.
Waterfall
Mountain PeakWaterfall
State Park
BeachBeachBeachBeachBeachCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Haypress Campground4.8 km (3.0 mi) · reservable
- Hawk Campground6.5 km (4.0 mi) · reservable
- Bicentennial Campground8.6 km (5.3 mi) · reservable
- Kirby Cove Campground9.3 km (5.8 mi) · reservable
- Rob Hill Group Campground13.9 km (8.6 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Edgewood Botanic Garden?
What time is golden hour at Edgewood Botanic Garden?
Where does the sun rise and set at Edgewood Botanic Garden?
Can you see the Milky Way from Edgewood Botanic Garden?
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Sources
Location data: Wikidata, Wikipedia. Sun, moon and Milky Way times are computed by LWPhoto Atlas for 2026. Climate: NASA POWER. Sky darkness is a population-based estimate (Walker's law), not a measurement. See data sources & licenses.