The Kampong — a botanical garden in Miami-Dade County, Florida — is a rewarding subject for landscape photographers. The nearest town is Coconut Grove, about 800 m away (The Kampong lies ENE of town). It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Kampong is a botanical garden in the Coconut Grove neighborhood of Miami, Florida, United States. It is one of the five gardens of the non-profit National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG). It is open Tuesday through Saturday (9:00am-3:00pm). Visitors are encouraged to make reservations to visit, though tickets can be purchased on site.From the Wikipedia article “The Kampong”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At The Kampong 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 45m |
| 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 42m |
| 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 | 7:30 PM | 7:53 PM | 11h 59m |
| April | 6:35 AM | 6:59 AM | 7:30 AM | 7:14 PM | 7:44 PM | 8:08 PM | 12h 46m |
| May | 6:11 AM | 6:36 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:28 PM | 8:00 PM | 8:25 PM | 13h 24m |
| June | 6:04 AM | 6:30 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 | 7:42 PM | 8:15 PM | 8:41 PM | 13h 36m |
| 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 | 5:33 PM | 5:58 PM | 10h 54m |
| December | 6:36 AM | 7:01 AM | 7:35 AM | 4:59 PM | 5:33 PM | 5:58 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 The Kampong, 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 ≈ 18.06 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
- 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.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of The Kampong, closest first.
State Park
Botanical Garden
Botanical Garden
Botanical Garden
Botanical Garden
Botanical Garden
Ghost Town
Scenic Viewpoint
BeachCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph The Kampong?
What time is golden hour at The Kampong?
Where does the sun rise and set at The Kampong?
Can you see the Milky Way from The Kampong?
Do you need a permit to photograph at The Kampong?
How far is The Kampong from Coconut Grove?
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.