Butterfly World is a botanical garden in Broward County, Florida. It sits roughly 2.0 km (1.2 mi) NNE of Coconut Creek.
Butterfly World is located in Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek, Florida. It opened in 1988, and it is the largest butterfly park in the world, and the first park of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. The facility houses around 20,000 live butterflies.From the Wikipedia article “Butterfly World”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Butterfly World the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 63° (ENE) at the June solstice and 116° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 297° (WNW) in June to 244° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 87° in summer but only 40° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:26 AM | 90° E | 7:32 PM | 270° W | 64° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:30 AM | 63° ENE | 8:17 PM | 297° WNW | 87° | 13h 47m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:10 AM | 89° E | 7:19 PM | 271° W | 64° | 12h 09m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:05 AM | 116° ESE | 5:34 PM | 244° WSW | 40° | 10h 29m |
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 | 6:46 AM | 7:11 AM | 7:44 AM | 5:17 PM | 5:51 PM | 6:16 PM | 10h 40m |
| February | 6:34 AM | 6:57 AM | 7:29 AM | 5:43 PM | 6:14 PM | 6:38 PM | 11h 17m |
| March | 7:08 AM | 7:31 AM | 8:01 AM | 6:59 PM | 7:30 PM | 7:53 PM | 11h 59m |
| April | 6:34 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:29 AM | 7:14 PM | 7:45 PM | 8:08 PM | 12h 47m |
| May | 6:10 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:28 PM | 8:01 PM | 8:26 PM | 13h 26m |
| June | 6:03 AM | 6:29 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:42 PM | 8:15 PM | 8:41 PM | 13h 47m |
| July | 6:13 AM | 6:38 AM | 7:11 AM | 7:43 PM | 8:16 PM | 8:42 PM | 13h 38m |
| August | 6:30 AM | 6:54 AM | 7:25 AM | 7:27 PM | 7:58 PM | 8:22 PM | 13h 04m |
| September | 6:44 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:38 AM | 6:56 PM | 7:27 PM | 7:50 PM | 12h 19m |
| October | 6:57 AM | 7:20 AM | 7:51 AM | 6:23 PM | 6:54 PM | 7:17 PM | 11h 34m |
| November | 6:16 AM | 6:40 AM | 7:13 AM | 4:59 PM | 5:32 PM | 5:57 PM | 10h 52m |
| December | 6:36 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:36 AM | 4:57 PM | 5:32 PM | 5:57 PM | 10h 30m |
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 Butterfly World, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 7.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 35° 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 | — | 3° | — |
| February | 4:22 AM – 5:32 AM | 1.2 | 21° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:37 AM – 6:07 AM | 2.5 | 31° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:35 AM – 5:35 AM | 4.0 | 35° | SE → S |
| May | 11:37 PM – 5:07 AM | 5.5 | 35° | SE → SSW |
| June | 9:46 PM – 4:56 AM | 7.2 | 35° | SE → SW |
| July | 9:45 PM – 3:25 AM | 5.7 | 35° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:21 PM – 1:31 AM | 4.2 | 35° | S → SW |
| September | 8:44 PM – 11:24 PM | 2.7 | 32° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:11 PM – 9:31 PM | 1.3 | 23° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 6° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -17° | — |
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 ≈ 18.11 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show November as the clearest month (about 41% average cloud cover) and June as the cloudiest (64%). August 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 | 85 | 87 | 94 | 95 | 98 | 98 | 96 | 94 | 92 | 90 | 89 | 86 |
| Low °F | 28 | 33 | 36 | 49 | 57 | 69 | 73 | 73 | 67 | 46 | 42 | 31 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.6 | 1.9 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 4.4 | 7.8 | 6.7 | 7.2 | 6.7 | 3.5 | 1.8 | 1.8 |
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 Butterfly World, closest first.
Covered Bridge
Lighthouse
State Park
Beach
Botanical Garden
Botanical Garden
Botanical Garden
State ParkFAQ
When is the best time to photograph Butterfly World?
What time is golden hour at Butterfly World?
Where does the sun rise and set at Butterfly World?
Can you see the Milky Way from Butterfly World?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Butterfly World?
How far is Butterfly World from Coconut Creek?
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.