Montgomery Botanical Center — a botanical garden in Miami-Dade County, Florida — is a popular subject for landscape photographers. It lies in or next to Biscayne National Park, so park hours, fees and rules apply. It sits roughly 2.7 km (1.7 mi) ESE of Pinecrest.
The Montgomery Botanical Center (120 acres), originally known as the Montgomery Foundation, is a nonprofit botanical garden and institution located at 11901 Old Cutler Road, Coral Gables, Florida. It collects seeds from wild plant populations worldwide, with an emphasis on palms and cycads. The garden is a scientific research facility, and not generally open to the public though reservations for guided tours for individuals or groups are available. The center was established in 1959 by Nell Montgomery Jennings in memory of her husband, Robert Hiester Montgomery, co-founder of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. It occupies the former site of their estate, the Coconut Grove Palmetum. Today the property is organized into four geographic areas: the Coconut Grove Palmetum, South Palmetum, Lowland Palmetum, and Research which in turn contains research laboratories, the Montgomery Library,...From the Wikipedia article “Montgomery Botanical Center”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Montgomery Botanical Center 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 88° in summer but only 41° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:26 AM | 90° E | 7:33 PM | 270° W | 64° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:31 AM | 63° ENE | 8:16 PM | 297° WNW | 88° | 13h 44m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:10 AM | 89° E | 7:19 PM | 271° W | 65° | 12h 09m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:04 AM | 116° ESE | 5:36 PM | 244° WSW | 41° | 10h 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 | 6:45 AM | 7:10 AM | 7:43 AM | 5:19 PM | 5:52 PM | 6:17 PM | 10h 43m |
| February | 6:34 AM | 6:57 AM | 7:29 AM | 5:44 PM | 6:15 PM | 6:39 PM | 11h 18m |
| March | 7:08 AM | 7:31 AM | 8:02 AM | 7:00 PM | 7:31 PM | 7:53 PM | 11h 59m |
| April | 6:35 AM | 6:59 AM | 7:30 AM | 7:14 PM | 7:45 PM | 8:08 PM | 12h 46m |
| May | 6:12 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:28 PM | 8:00 PM | 8:25 PM | 13h 24m |
| June | 6:05 AM | 6:31 AM | 7:04 AM | 7:41 PM | 8:14 PM | 8:40 PM | 13h 44m |
| July | 6:14 AM | 6:40 AM | 7:13 AM | 7:43 PM | 8:15 PM | 8:41 PM | 13h 35m |
| August | 6:31 AM | 6:55 AM | 7:26 AM | 7:27 PM | 7:58 PM | 8:22 PM | 13h 03m |
| September | 6:45 AM | 7:08 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 | 6:24 PM | 6:55 PM | 7:18 PM | 11h 34m |
| November | 6:15 AM | 6:40 AM | 7:12 AM | 5:01 PM | 5:34 PM | 5:58 PM | 10h 54m |
| December | 6:36 AM | 7:01 AM | 7:35 AM | 4:59 PM | 5:34 PM | 5:59 PM | 10h 33m |
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 Montgomery Botanical Center, 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 | 22° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:37 AM – 6:07 AM | 2.5 | 32° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:34 AM – 5:34 AM | 4.0 | 35° | SE → S |
| May | 11:36 PM – 5:06 AM | 5.5 | 35° | SE → SSW |
| June | 9:45 PM – 4:55 AM | 7.2 | 35° | SE → SW |
| July | 9:43 PM – 3:33 AM | 5.8 | 35° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:20 PM – 1:30 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 ≈ 18.23 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show November as the clearest month (about 46% average cloud cover) and June as the cloudiest (69%). 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 | 81 | 83 | 86 | 89 | 90 | 91 | 91 | 91 | 90 | 89 | 86 | 82 |
| Low °F | 37 | 43 | 48 | 58 | 67 | 76 | 78 | 79 | 73 | 57 | 53 | 41 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.4 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 2.8 | 4.7 | 8.1 | 7.1 | 7.4 | 8.0 | 4.2 | 2.2 | 1.7 |
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
- 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.
- Seasonal exhibits (orchids, tulips, cherry blossoms) draw crowds — arrive at opening.
- Shoot RAW to keep the most latitude for high-contrast sunrise and sunset scenes.
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 Montgomery Botanical Center, closest first.
Botanical Garden
Botanical Garden
Botanical Garden
Botanical Garden
State Park
Botanical Garden
State Park
Lighthouse
Botanical GardenCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Montgomery Botanical Center?
What time is golden hour at Montgomery Botanical Center?
Where does the sun rise and set at Montgomery Botanical Center?
Can you see the Milky Way from Montgomery Botanical Center?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Montgomery Botanical Center?
How far is Montgomery Botanical Center from Pinecrest?
Sources
Location data: Wikidata, USGS GNIS / GeoNames, 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.