Cedar Valley Arboretum & Botanic Gardens — a botanical garden in Black Hawk County, Iowa — is a classic subject for landscape photographers. It sits roughly 5.6 km (3.5 mi) SW of Evansdale.
The Cedar Valley Arboretum and Botanic Gardens was founded in 1996 and is located directly East of Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo, Iowa. The mission of the Arboretum is to enhance the quality of life for all individuals through horticulture. The vision of the Arboretum is to serve as a compelling public resource for the study of plants, a leader in environmental stewardship, a cultural center for the community, and a showcase of Iowa's rich heritage with the land. The Arboretum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, independent organization and supported by its volunteer base and community support.From the Wikipedia article “Cedar Valley Arboretum & Botanic Gardens”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Cedar Valley Arboretum & Botanic Gardens 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 304° (WNW) in June to 238° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 71° in summer but only 24° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:14 AM | 90° E | 7:22 PM | 271° W | 47° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:33 AM | 57° ENE | 8:51 PM | 304° WNW | 71° | 15h 18m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:57 AM | 89° E | 7:08 PM | 271° W | 48° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:36 AM | 122° ESE | 4:40 PM | 238° WSW | 24° | 9h 04m |
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 | 7:06 AM | 7:37 AM | 8:21 AM | 4:18 PM | 5:02 PM | 5:33 PM | 9h 25m |
| February | 6:38 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:46 AM | 5:02 PM | 5:42 PM | 6:11 PM | 10h 35m |
| March | 6:54 AM | 7:22 AM | 7:59 AM | 6:39 PM | 7:16 PM | 7:44 PM | 11h 54m |
| April | 6:00 AM | 6:29 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:13 PM | 7:51 PM | 8:20 PM | 13h 22m |
| May | 5:16 AM | 5:49 AM | 6:29 AM | 7:44 PM | 8:25 PM | 8:57 PM | 14h 36m |
| June | 4:58 AM | 5:32 AM | 6:15 AM | 8:06 PM | 8:49 PM | 9:24 PM | 15h 16m |
| July | 5:13 AM | 5:46 AM | 6:28 AM | 8:04 PM | 8:46 PM | 9:19 PM | 14h 59m |
| August | 5:47 AM | 6:17 AM | 6:56 AM | 7:34 PM | 8:12 PM | 8:43 PM | 13h 55m |
| September | 6:22 AM | 6:50 AM | 7:27 AM | 6:44 PM | 7:21 PM | 7:49 PM | 12h 31m |
| October | 6:54 AM | 7:23 AM | 8:01 AM | 5:51 PM | 6:29 PM | 6:57 PM | 11h 06m |
| November | 6:31 AM | 7:01 AM | 7:43 AM | 4:07 PM | 4:49 PM | 5:19 PM | 9h 47m |
| December | 7:01 AM | 7:33 AM | 8:18 AM | 3:53 PM | 4:38 PM | 5:10 PM | 9h 05m |
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 Cedar Valley Arboretum & Botanic Gardens, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.2 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 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 | — | 9° | — |
| March | 4:50 AM – 5:40 AM | 0.8 | 15° | SSE → SSE |
| April | 2:42 AM – 4:42 AM | 2.0 | 18° | SE → S |
| May | 12:53 AM – 3:43 AM | 2.8 | 19° | SSE → S |
| June | 11:04 PM – 3:14 AM | 4.2 | 19° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 10:53 PM – 1:53 AM | 3.0 | 19° | S → SSW |
| August | 10:00 PM – 11:50 PM | 1.8 | 18° | S → SSW |
| September | 8:57 PM – 9:47 PM | 0.8 | 15° | SSW → SSW |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 9° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -2° | — |
| 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 ≈ 19.91 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 5.5+ 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 (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 | 51 | 68 | 79 | 85 | 94 | 102 | 107 | 101 | 93 | 86 | 76 | 68 |
| Low °F | -32 | -18 | -18 | 10 | 25 | 40 | 47 | 44 | 33 | 22 | 3 | -23 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.0 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 3.9 | 4.5 | 5.6 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 3.6 | 2.8 | 1.8 | 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
- 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.
- 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.
- Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.
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.
FAQ
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Can you see the Milky Way from Cedar Valley Arboretum & Botanic Gardens?
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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.