Iowa Arboretum is a botanical garden in Boone County, Iowa at about 292 m (958 ft) above sea level. It sits roughly 8.0 km (5.0 mi) NNW of Madrid.
The Iowa Arboretum & Gardens is a nonprofit Arboretum located in Madrid, Iowa that encompasses 170 acres (69 ha). The Iowa State Horticultural Society decided in 1966 on its 100th anniversary to start an Arboretum to serve all of Iowa. A 40-acre parcel of land was purchased in 1968. The deed for the land was paid off in 1972. The Iowa Arboretum & Gardens is a community-supported public garden inspiring curiosity, discovery, and appreciation of the natural landscape. The Arboretum contains hundreds of species of trees, shrubs, and perennials that can be found in individual gardens or collections on the main 40 acre campus. Specialty gardens include: Butterfly Garden, Children's Garden, Conifer Garden, Founders Grove, Herb Garden, Hostas, Large Deciduous Trees, Medium Deciduous Trees, Nut Trees, Perennial Garden, Shade Garden, Windbreak, Viburnums, and Irises. In addition, the...From the Wikipedia article “Iowa Arboretum”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Iowa 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 71° in summer but only 25° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:20 AM | 90° E | 7:28 PM | 271° W | 48° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:41 AM | 57° ENE | 8:55 PM | 303° WNW | 71° | 15h 14m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:04 AM | 89° E | 7:14 PM | 271° W | 48° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:41 AM | 122° ESE | 4:48 PM | 239° WSW | 25° | 9h 07m |
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 | 7:11 AM | 7:42 AM | 8:25 AM | 4:26 PM | 5:09 PM | 5:40 PM | 9h 28m |
| February | 6:44 AM | 7:12 AM | 7:51 AM | 5:10 PM | 5:49 PM | 6:17 PM | 10h 36m |
| March | 7:00 AM | 7:28 AM | 8:05 AM | 6:45 PM | 7:22 PM | 7:50 PM | 11h 54m |
| April | 6:07 AM | 6:36 AM | 7:13 AM | 7:19 PM | 7:56 PM | 8:25 PM | 13h 21m |
| May | 5:24 AM | 5:56 AM | 6:36 AM | 7:49 PM | 8:29 PM | 9:01 PM | 14h 33m |
| June | 5:06 AM | 5:40 AM | 6:23 AM | 8:11 PM | 8:53 PM | 9:28 PM | 15h 13m |
| July | 5:21 AM | 5:54 AM | 6:35 AM | 8:09 PM | 8:50 PM | 9:23 PM | 14h 56m |
| August | 5:54 AM | 6:24 AM | 7:03 AM | 7:39 PM | 8:17 PM | 8:48 PM | 13h 53m |
| September | 6:28 AM | 6:56 AM | 7:33 AM | 6:50 PM | 7:27 PM | 7:55 PM | 12h 30m |
| October | 7:00 AM | 7:28 AM | 8:06 AM | 5:57 PM | 6:35 PM | 7:03 PM | 11h 07m |
| November | 6:36 AM | 7:06 AM | 7:48 AM | 4:14 PM | 4:56 PM | 5:26 PM | 9h 50m |
| December | 7:05 AM | 7:37 AM | 8:22 AM | 4:01 PM | 4:46 PM | 5:17 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 Iowa 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 4 (rural / suburban transition), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -3° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 10° | — |
| March | 4:55 AM – 5:45 AM | 0.8 | 15° | SSE → SSE |
| April | 2:47 AM – 4:47 AM | 2.0 | 19° | SE → S |
| May | 12:56 AM – 3:56 AM | 3.0 | 19° | SSE → S |
| June | 11:05 PM – 3:25 AM | 4.3 | 19° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 10:55 PM – 2:05 AM | 3.2 | 19° | S → SW |
| August | 10:04 PM – 12:04 AM | 2.0 | 18° | S → SW |
| September | 9:02 PM – 10:02 PM | 1.0 | 15° | 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: 4 Bortle 4 — Rural / suburban transition. Light domes are visible in several directions; the Milky Way is clear but lacks detail near the horizon. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.04 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 January as the cloudiest (65%). 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 | 56 | 69 | 79 | 88 | 97 | 103 | 109 | 106 | 101 | 89 | 76 | 69 |
| Low °F | -29 | -13 | -11 | 17 | 29 | 41 | 50 | 46 | 36 | 22 | 7 | -12 |
| Precip. (in) | 0.8 | 1.2 | 1.9 | 3.6 | 4.7 | 5.1 | 3.6 | 4.2 | 3.5 | 2.8 | 1.7 | 1.4 |
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.
- Many gardens restrict tripods or charge for photography; check the rules before you go.
- 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.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Iowa Arboretum, closest first.
Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Sandpiper Recreation Area24 km (15 mi) · reservable
- Acorn Valley26 km (16 mi) · reservable
- Prairie Flower Recreation Area26 km (16 mi) · reservable
- Walnut Ridge Recreation Area26 km (16 mi) · reservable
- Oak Grove Picnic Area27 km (17 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Iowa Arboretum?
What time is golden hour at Iowa Arboretum?
Where does the sun rise and set at Iowa Arboretum?
Can you see the Milky Way from Iowa Arboretum?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Iowa Arboretum?
How far is Iowa Arboretum from Madrid?
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.