Bartlett Arboretum and Gardens — a botanical garden in Western Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut — is a rewarding subject for landscape photographers. The nearest town is North Stamford, about 600 m away (Bartlett Arboretum and Gardens lies SSW of town).
The Bartlett Arboretum and Gardens in Stamford, Connecticut, contains 93 acres of parkland, gardens, landscapes, and hiking trails that focus on the regional plants, ecology and character of Southwestern New England. The Arboretum is open and accessible to the public every day of the year and is located at 151 Brookdale Road. The herbarium of the Bartlett Arboretum is a collection of over 3500 specimens. While most specimens are from the Northeastern United States, the collection also houses material from the Southeastern United States and Adjacent Mexico (200), the Caribbean (100), Amazonian Peru (150), the former Soviet Union (200), and Africa (100). This collection includes approximately 2,500 species of vascular plants, and 1,000 species of bryophyte. The collection currently houses one type specimen.From the Wikipedia article “Bartlett Arboretum and Gardens”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Bartlett Arboretum and Gardens the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 57° (ENE) at the June solstice and 121° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 303° (WNW) in June to 239° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 72° in summer but only 25° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:59 AM | 90° E | 7:06 PM | 271° W | 49° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:23 AM | 57° ENE | 8:31 PM | 303° WNW | 72° | 15h 08m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:42 AM | 89° E | 6:53 PM | 271° W | 49° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:17 AM | 121° ESE | 4:29 PM | 239° WSW | 25° | 9h 12m |
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 | 6:48 AM | 7:18 AM | 8:00 AM | 4:08 PM | 4:50 PM | 5:21 PM | 9h 32m |
| February | 6:22 AM | 6:50 AM | 7:28 AM | 4:50 PM | 5:29 PM | 5:57 PM | 10h 39m |
| March | 6:40 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:43 AM | 6:25 PM | 7:01 PM | 7:28 PM | 11h 54m |
| April | 5:47 AM | 6:16 AM | 6:53 AM | 6:57 PM | 7:34 PM | 8:03 PM | 13h 18m |
| May | 5:06 AM | 5:37 AM | 6:16 AM | 7:26 PM | 8:06 PM | 8:37 PM | 14h 29m |
| June | 4:48 AM | 5:22 AM | 6:03 AM | 7:48 PM | 8:29 PM | 9:03 PM | 15h 07m |
| July | 5:02 AM | 5:35 AM | 6:16 AM | 7:46 PM | 8:26 PM | 8:59 PM | 14h 51m |
| August | 5:35 AM | 6:04 AM | 6:42 AM | 7:17 PM | 7:55 PM | 8:24 PM | 13h 50m |
| September | 6:08 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:12 AM | 6:29 PM | 7:05 PM | 7:33 PM | 12h 30m |
| October | 6:38 AM | 7:06 AM | 7:44 AM | 5:38 PM | 6:15 PM | 6:43 PM | 11h 09m |
| November | 6:13 AM | 6:43 AM | 7:24 AM | 3:56 PM | 4:37 PM | 5:06 PM | 9h 54m |
| December | 6:42 AM | 7:13 AM | 7:57 AM | 3:43 PM | 4:27 PM | 4:58 PM | 9h 14m |
Local time (America/New York), 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 Bartlett Arboretum and Gardens, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 20° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 8 (city sky), 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 | — | -2° | — |
| February | 5:11 AM – 5:11 AM | 0.0 | 10° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:23 AM – 5:33 AM | 1.2 | 17° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:23 AM – 4:33 AM | 2.2 | 19° | SE → S |
| May | 12:20 AM – 3:40 AM | 3.3 | 20° | SE → S |
| June | 10:38 PM – 3:08 AM | 4.5 | 20° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 10:28 PM – 1:48 AM | 3.3 | 20° | S → SW |
| August | 9:39 PM – 11:39 PM | 2.0 | 19° | S → SW |
| September | 8:39 PM – 9:39 PM | 1.0 | 16° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:46 PM – 7:46 PM | 0.0 | 10° | 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: 8 Bortle 8 — City sky. Only bright constellations are visible; the sky glows orange or white. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 18.23 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 6.0+ to show low on the northern horizon here.
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 50% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (65%). July 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 | 66 | 70 | 73 | 91 | 87 | 95 | 101 | 102 | 96 | 88 | 76 | 69 |
| Low °F | -16 | -15 | -8 | 18 | 30 | 38 | 49 | 50 | 37 | 21 | 6 | -2 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.0 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 4.8 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.8 | 3.6 | 4.2 |
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
- 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.
- 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.
- Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.
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.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Bartlett Arboretum and Gardens, closest first.
Botanical Garden
State Park
Waterfall
Lighthouse
Lighthouse
Lighthouse
Beach
Lighthouse
LighthouseFAQ
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Can you see the Milky Way from Bartlett Arboretum and Gardens?
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How far is Bartlett Arboretum and Gardens from North Stamford?
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.