Located in Porter County, Indiana, Taltree Arboretum and Gardens is a botanical garden. It lies in or next to Indiana Dunes National Park, so park hours, fees and rules apply. It sits roughly 1.7 km (1.1 mi) SSW of Shorewood Forest.
Gabis Arboretum at Purdue Northwest is a nature preserve near Valparaiso, Indiana in the United States. The preserve has the largest collection of oak trees in Indiana and an award-winning garden railway.From the Wikipedia article “Gabis Arboretum at Purdue Northwest”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Taltree Arboretum and Gardens 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) | 6:53 AM | 90° E | 7:01 PM | 271° W | 48° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:16 AM | 57° ENE | 8:26 PM | 303° WNW | 72° | 15h 11m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:37 AM | 89° E | 6:48 PM | 271° W | 49° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:12 AM | 121° ESE | 4:23 PM | 239° WSW | 25° | 9h 10m |
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 | 6:43 AM | 7:13 AM | 7:56 AM | 4:01 PM | 4:44 PM | 5:14 PM | 9h 31m |
| February | 6:16 AM | 6:45 AM | 7:23 AM | 4:44 PM | 5:23 PM | 5:51 PM | 10h 38m |
| March | 6:34 AM | 7:01 AM | 7:38 AM | 6:19 PM | 6:55 PM | 7:23 PM | 11h 54m |
| April | 5:41 AM | 6:10 AM | 6:47 AM | 6:52 PM | 7:29 PM | 7:58 PM | 13h 19m |
| May | 4:59 AM | 5:31 AM | 6:10 AM | 7:21 PM | 8:01 PM | 8:33 PM | 14h 31m |
| June | 4:41 AM | 5:15 AM | 5:57 AM | 7:43 PM | 8:25 PM | 8:59 PM | 15h 09m |
| July | 4:56 AM | 5:29 AM | 6:09 AM | 7:41 PM | 8:22 PM | 8:55 PM | 14h 53m |
| August | 5:29 AM | 5:58 AM | 6:36 AM | 7:12 PM | 7:50 PM | 8:19 PM | 13h 51m |
| September | 6:02 AM | 6:30 AM | 7:06 AM | 6:23 PM | 7:00 PM | 7:28 PM | 12h 30m |
| October | 6:33 AM | 7:01 AM | 7:39 AM | 5:31 PM | 6:09 PM | 6:37 PM | 11h 08m |
| November | 6:08 AM | 6:38 AM | 7:19 AM | 3:49 PM | 4:30 PM | 5:00 PM | 9h 52m |
| December | 6:37 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:53 AM | 3:36 PM | 4:21 PM | 4:52 PM | 9h 12m |
Local time (America/Chicago), 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 Taltree Arboretum and Gardens, 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 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 | — | -3° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 10° | — |
| March | 4:18 AM – 5:18 AM | 1.0 | 16° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:19 AM – 4:19 AM | 2.0 | 19° | SE → S |
| May | 12:17 AM – 3:27 AM | 3.2 | 20° | SE → S |
| June | 10:35 PM – 3:05 AM | 4.5 | 20° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 10:25 PM – 1:35 AM | 3.2 | 20° | S → SW |
| August | 9:35 PM – 11:35 PM | 2.0 | 19° | S → SW |
| September | 8:35 PM – 9:35 PM | 1.0 | 16° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:41 PM – 7:41 PM | 0.0 | 10° | 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: 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 ≈ 19.56 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 46% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (73%). 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 | 62 | 64 | 80 | 80 | 92 | 98 | 103 | 96 | 95 | 86 | 74 | 68 |
| Low °F | -24 | -15 | -8 | 21 | 27 | 36 | 48 | 49 | 38 | 22 | 12 | -9 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.9 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 3.7 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 3.2 | 3.6 | 2.4 | 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
- 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.
- A macro lens or close-up filter opens a world of detail — try a shallow aperture against a soft background.
- Check road and trail conditions with the managing agency before you go.
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 Taltree Arboretum and Gardens, closest first.
Botanical Garden
Sand Dunes
Covered Bridge
LakeSand DunesCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Chellberg Farm Picnic Shelters20 km (13 mi) · reservable
- West Beach Picnic Shelters20 km (13 mi) · reservable
- Dunewood Campground29 km (18 mi) · reservable
- Dunbar Group Site29 km (18 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Taltree Arboretum and Gardens?
What time is golden hour at Taltree Arboretum and Gardens?
Where does the sun rise and set at Taltree Arboretum and Gardens?
Can you see the Milky Way from Taltree Arboretum and Gardens?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Taltree Arboretum and Gardens?
How far is Taltree Arboretum and Gardens from Shorewood Forest?
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.