Bickelhaupt Arboretum — a botanical garden in Clinton County, Iowa at about 209 m (686 ft) above sea level — is a rewarding subject for landscape photographers. The nearest town is Clinton, about 2.6 km (1.6 mi) away (Bickelhaupt Arboretum lies W of town).
Bickelhaupt Arboretum (14 acres) is a non-profit arboretum located in Clinton, Iowa. The arboretum is open from dawn to dusk throughout the year and is maintained under the auspices of the Clinton Community College.From the Wikipedia article “Bickelhaupt Arboretum”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Bickelhaupt Arboretum the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 57° (ENE) at the June solstice and 122° (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) | 7:05 AM | 90° E | 7:13 PM | 271° W | 48° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:27 AM | 57° ENE | 8:40 PM | 303° WNW | 72° | 15h 13m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:49 AM | 89° E | 7:00 PM | 271° W | 48° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:26 AM | 122° ESE | 4:34 PM | 239° WSW | 25° | 9h 08m |
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 | 6:56 AM | 7:27 AM | 8:10 AM | 4:12 PM | 4:55 PM | 5:26 PM | 9h 28m |
| February | 6:29 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:37 AM | 4:55 PM | 5:34 PM | 6:03 PM | 10h 37m |
| March | 6:46 AM | 7:14 AM | 7:51 AM | 6:31 PM | 7:08 PM | 7:35 PM | 11h 54m |
| April | 5:52 AM | 6:21 AM | 6:59 AM | 7:04 PM | 7:42 PM | 8:11 PM | 13h 20m |
| May | 5:10 AM | 5:42 AM | 6:22 AM | 7:34 PM | 8:14 PM | 8:46 PM | 14h 33m |
| June | 4:52 AM | 5:26 AM | 6:08 AM | 7:56 PM | 8:38 PM | 9:13 PM | 15h 12m |
| July | 5:06 AM | 5:40 AM | 6:21 AM | 7:54 PM | 8:35 PM | 9:08 PM | 14h 56m |
| August | 5:40 AM | 6:10 AM | 6:48 AM | 7:24 PM | 8:03 PM | 8:33 PM | 13h 53m |
| September | 6:14 AM | 6:42 AM | 7:19 AM | 6:36 PM | 7:12 PM | 7:40 PM | 12h 30m |
| October | 6:46 AM | 7:14 AM | 7:51 AM | 5:43 PM | 6:21 PM | 6:49 PM | 11h 07m |
| November | 6:21 AM | 6:51 AM | 7:33 AM | 4:00 PM | 4:42 PM | 5:11 PM | 9h 50m |
| December | 6:51 AM | 7:22 AM | 8:07 AM | 3:47 PM | 4:32 PM | 5:03 PM | 9h 09m |
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 Bickelhaupt Arboretum, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 19° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 6 (bright 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 | 4:31 AM – 5:31 AM | 1.0 | 16° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:32 AM – 4:32 AM | 2.0 | 19° | SE → S |
| May | 12:30 AM – 3:40 AM | 3.2 | 19° | SE → S |
| June | 10:49 PM – 3:09 AM | 4.3 | 19° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 10:39 PM – 1:49 AM | 3.2 | 19° | S → SW |
| August | 9:49 PM – 11:49 PM | 2.0 | 19° | S → SW |
| September | 8:47 PM – 9:47 PM | 1.0 | 16° | SSW → SW |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 10° | — |
| 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: 6 Bortle 6 — Bright suburban sky. The Milky Way is only visible near the zenith; the sky glows grey-orange in photos. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 19.12 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 44% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (68%). 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 | 70 | 79 | 84 | 94 | 102 | 109 | 102 | 103 | 92 | 75 | 70 |
| Low °F | -32 | -13 | -9 | 17 | 28 | 42 | 48 | 45 | 34 | 21 | 7 | -15 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.3 | 1.8 | 2.3 | 3.7 | 4.4 | 5.0 | 3.7 | 3.8 | 3.5 | 2.9 | 2.0 | 1.9 |
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 Bickelhaupt Arboretum, closest first.
State Park
Covered Bridge
State ParkCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Bulger'S Hollow Recreation Area10.9 km (6.8 mi) · reservable
- Thomson Causeway15.3 km (9.5 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Bickelhaupt Arboretum?
What time is golden hour at Bickelhaupt Arboretum?
Where does the sun rise and set at Bickelhaupt Arboretum?
Can you see the Milky Way from Bickelhaupt Arboretum?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Bickelhaupt Arboretum?
How far is Bickelhaupt Arboretum from Clinton?
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.