Located in Manatee County, Florida, Palma Sola Botanical Park is a botanical garden. It lies in or next to De Soto National Memorial, so park hours, fees and rules apply. It sits roughly 4.7 km (2.9 mi) WNW of West Bradenton.
Palma Sola Botanical Park is a botanical garden located at 9800 17th Avenue N.W. Bradenton, Florida, United States. The park showcases collections of rare palms, fruits, and flowering trees, as well as three lakes, a butterfly garden, gazebo, and pavilion. It is open daily without charge.From the Wikipedia article “Palma Sola Botanical Park”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Palma Sola Botanical Park 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 86° in summer but only 39° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:35 AM | 90° E | 7:42 PM | 270° W | 62° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:37 AM | 63° ENE | 8:30 PM | 297° WNW | 86° | 13h 53m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:20 AM | 89° E | 7:29 PM | 271° W | 63° | 12h 09m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:17 AM | 116° ESE | 5:41 PM | 244° WSW | 39° | 10h 24m |
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 | 6:58 AM | 7:23 AM | 7:57 AM | 5:24 PM | 5:58 PM | 6:24 PM | 10h 35m |
| February | 6:45 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:41 AM | 5:51 PM | 6:23 PM | 6:47 PM | 11h 14m |
| March | 7:18 AM | 7:41 AM | 8:12 AM | 7:09 PM | 7:40 PM | 8:03 PM | 11h 59m |
| April | 6:43 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:38 AM | 7:24 PM | 7:56 PM | 8:20 PM | 12h 49m |
| May | 6:17 AM | 6:43 AM | 7:16 AM | 7:40 PM | 8:13 PM | 8:38 PM | 13h 30m |
| June | 6:09 AM | 6:36 AM | 7:10 AM | 7:54 PM | 8:28 PM | 8:55 PM | 13h 52m |
| July | 6:20 AM | 6:46 AM | 7:19 AM | 7:55 PM | 8:29 PM | 8:55 PM | 13h 43m |
| August | 6:38 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:34 AM | 7:38 PM | 8:10 PM | 8:34 PM | 13h 08m |
| September | 6:53 AM | 7:17 AM | 7:48 AM | 7:06 PM | 7:37 PM | 8:00 PM | 12h 20m |
| October | 7:08 AM | 7:31 AM | 8:03 AM | 6:32 PM | 7:03 PM | 7:26 PM | 11h 32m |
| November | 6:28 AM | 6:52 AM | 7:26 AM | 5:07 PM | 5:40 PM | 6:05 PM | 10h 48m |
| December | 6:49 AM | 7:14 AM | 7:49 AM | 5:04 PM | 5:39 PM | 6:05 PM | 10h 25m |
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 Palma Sola Botanical Park, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 7.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 34° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 5 (suburban 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 | — | 4° | — |
| February | 4:42 AM – 5:42 AM | 1.0 | 20° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:48 AM – 6:18 AM | 2.5 | 30° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:47 AM – 5:37 AM | 3.8 | 34° | SE → S |
| May | 11:51 PM – 5:11 AM | 5.3 | 34° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:01 PM – 5:01 AM | 7.0 | 34° | SE → SW |
| July | 9:59 PM – 3:29 AM | 5.5 | 34° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:34 PM – 1:34 AM | 4.0 | 34° | S → SW |
| September | 8:56 PM – 11:26 PM | 2.5 | 31° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:21 PM – 9:31 PM | 1.2 | 22° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 5° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -18° | — |
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: 5 Bortle 5 — Suburban sky. The Milky Way is weak near the horizon and washed out overhead; long exposures pick up a sky glow. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 19.62 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show April as the clearest month (about 43% average cloud cover) and July as the cloudiest (67%). 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 | 84 | 89 | 92 | 95 | 96 | 94 | 93 | 92 | 89 | 86 | 83 |
| Low °F | 30 | 35 | 40 | 47 | 60 | 70 | 73 | 73 | 65 | 47 | 42 | 36 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.4 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.3 | 3.4 | 8.3 | 8.4 | 9.1 | 7.3 | 2.8 | 1.9 | 2.4 |
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.
- 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 Palma Sola Botanical Park, closest first.
Beach
State Park
National Wildlife Refuge
State ParkNational Wildlife Refuge
State ParkLighthouse
Lighthouse
National Wildlife RefugeFAQ
When is the best time to photograph Palma Sola Botanical Park?
What time is golden hour at Palma Sola Botanical Park?
Where does the sun rise and set at Palma Sola Botanical Park?
Can you see the Milky Way from Palma Sola Botanical Park?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Palma Sola Botanical Park?
How far is Palma Sola Botanical Park from West Bradenton?
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.