Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory is a botanical garden in Allen County, Indiana. It sits roughly 6.2 km (3.9 mi) S of Fort Wayne.
The Foellinger–Freimann Botanical Conservatory is an enclosed conservatory in downtown Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States. Opened in 1983, the conservatory contains a 25,000-square-foot (2,300 m2) seasonal showcase garden, a tropical oasis display, with a waterfall, Sonoran Desert display, and outdoor terrace and exploration garden, encompassing a total of 100,000-square-foot (9,300 m2). The gardens display over 1,200 plants of 502 different species and 72 types of cactus.From the Wikipedia article “Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory 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) | 7:45 AM | 90° E | 7:53 PM | 271° W | 49° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:09 AM | 57° ENE | 9:17 PM | 303° WNW | 72° | 15h 08m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:29 AM | 89° E | 7:40 PM | 271° W | 49° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 8:03 AM | 121° ESE | 5:16 PM | 239° WSW | 25° | 9h 13m |
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 | 7:34 AM | 8:04 AM | 8:47 AM | 4:54 PM | 5:37 PM | 6:07 PM | 9h 33m |
| February | 7:08 AM | 7:36 AM | 8:15 AM | 5:37 PM | 6:15 PM | 6:43 PM | 10h 39m |
| March | 7:26 AM | 7:53 AM | 8:30 AM | 7:11 PM | 7:47 PM | 8:15 PM | 11h 54m |
| April | 6:33 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:39 AM | 7:43 PM | 8:20 PM | 8:49 PM | 13h 18m |
| May | 5:52 AM | 6:23 AM | 7:03 AM | 8:13 PM | 8:52 PM | 9:23 PM | 14h 29m |
| June | 5:35 AM | 6:08 AM | 6:50 AM | 8:34 PM | 9:15 PM | 9:49 PM | 15h 07m |
| July | 5:49 AM | 6:22 AM | 7:02 AM | 8:32 PM | 9:13 PM | 9:45 PM | 14h 51m |
| August | 6:21 AM | 6:51 AM | 7:29 AM | 8:03 PM | 8:41 PM | 9:11 PM | 13h 50m |
| September | 6:54 AM | 7:22 AM | 7:58 AM | 7:15 PM | 7:52 PM | 8:19 PM | 12h 30m |
| October | 7:25 AM | 7:53 AM | 8:30 AM | 6:24 PM | 7:01 PM | 7:29 PM | 11h 09m |
| November | 7:00 AM | 7:29 AM | 8:10 AM | 4:42 PM | 5:23 PM | 5:53 PM | 9h 54m |
| December | 7:28 AM | 7:59 AM | 8:43 AM | 4:30 PM | 5:14 PM | 5:45 PM | 9h 14m |
Local time (America/Indiana/Indianapolis), 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 Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory, 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 7 (suburban / urban transition), 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 | 5:58 AM – 5:58 AM | 0.0 | 10° | SE → SE |
| March | 5:10 AM – 6:20 AM | 1.2 | 17° | SE → SSE |
| April | 3:09 AM – 5:19 AM | 2.2 | 20° | SE → S |
| May | 1:06 AM – 4:26 AM | 3.3 | 20° | SE → S |
| June | 11:23 PM – 3:53 AM | 4.5 | 20° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 11:14 PM – 2:34 AM | 3.3 | 20° | S → SW |
| August | 10:25 PM – 12:35 AM | 2.2 | 20° | S → SW |
| September | 9:26 PM – 10:36 PM | 1.2 | 17° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:33 PM – 8:33 PM | 0.0 | 11° | 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: 7 Bortle 7 — Suburban / urban transition. The whole sky has a grey-white glow; the Milky Way is invisible to the eye. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 18.81 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 47% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (78%). 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 | 63 | 67 | 82 | 80 | 91 | 103 | 106 | 97 | 98 | 86 | 76 | 66 |
| Low °F | -17 | -11 | -3 | 21 | 25 | 37 | 43 | 44 | 38 | 25 | 11 | -12 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.3 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 3.5 | 4.3 | 3.9 | 3.7 | 3.8 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 2.8 | 2.3 |
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.
- Backlit petals glow; position yourself so the sun is behind the flower.
- 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 Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory, closest first.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory?
What time is golden hour at Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory?
Where does the sun rise and set at Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory?
Can you see the Milky Way from Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory?
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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.