Located in Story County, Iowa, Reiman Gardens is a botanical garden. The nearest town is Ames, about 3.2 km (2.0 mi) away (Reiman Gardens lies SSW of town).
Reiman Gardens (pronounced Rye-Men) is a 17-acre (6.9 ha) university-owned public garden located immediately south of Jack Trice Stadium on the Iowa State University (ISU) campus in Ames, Iowa. Reiman Gardens is a year-round garden with events, programs, lectures, and tours that has consistently been one of the top visited attractions in Central Iowa. In 2023, Reiman Gardens was named a “Top 10 Garden worth traveling for” in North America at the International Garden Tourism Conference. Reiman Gardens consists of over 20 distinct garden areas, an indoor conservatory, an indoor butterfly wing, a gift shop, and several supporting greenhouses. It is open seven days per week; 10:00 am to 4:30 pm, with extended hours in the summer season and extended evening hours for its events. The Gardens are closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. ISU students and their classes are...From the Wikipedia article “Reiman Gardens”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Reiman 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 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) | 7:19 AM | 90° E | 7:27 PM | 271° W | 48° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:40 AM | 57° ENE | 8:54 PM | 303° WNW | 71° | 15h 15m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:03 AM | 89° E | 7:14 PM | 271° W | 48° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:40 AM | 122° ESE | 4:47 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 | 7:10 AM | 7:41 AM | 8:24 AM | 4:25 PM | 5:08 PM | 5:39 PM | 9h 27m |
| February | 6:43 AM | 7:12 AM | 7:51 AM | 5:09 PM | 5:48 PM | 6:16 PM | 10h 36m |
| March | 7:00 AM | 7:27 AM | 8:04 AM | 6:44 PM | 7:21 PM | 7:49 PM | 11h 54m |
| April | 6:06 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:12 AM | 7:18 PM | 7:56 PM | 8:25 PM | 13h 21m |
| May | 5:23 AM | 5:55 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:49 PM | 8:29 PM | 9:01 PM | 14h 34m |
| June | 5:05 AM | 5:39 AM | 6:22 AM | 8:10 PM | 8:53 PM | 9:27 PM | 15h 13m |
| July | 5:19 AM | 5:53 AM | 6:34 AM | 8:08 PM | 8:49 PM | 9:23 PM | 14h 57m |
| August | 5:53 AM | 6:23 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:38 PM | 8:17 PM | 8:47 PM | 13h 53m |
| September | 6:27 AM | 6:55 AM | 7:32 AM | 6:49 PM | 7:26 PM | 7:54 PM | 12h 31m |
| October | 6:59 AM | 7:28 AM | 8:05 AM | 5:56 PM | 6:34 PM | 7:03 PM | 11h 07m |
| November | 6:35 AM | 7:05 AM | 7:47 AM | 4:13 PM | 4:55 PM | 5:25 PM | 9h 50m |
| December | 7:05 AM | 7:36 AM | 8:21 AM | 4:00 PM | 4:45 PM | 5:16 PM | 9h 08m |
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 Reiman Gardens, 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 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 | — | -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: 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 ≈ 18.64 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 45% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (66%). 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 | 54 | 66 | 80 | 86 | 96 | 103 | 107 | 102 | 100 | 85 | 76 | 66 |
| Low °F | -33 | -18 | -14 | 10 | 26 | 40 | 47 | 44 | 34 | 21 | 2 | -20 |
| Precip. (in) | 0.8 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 3.6 | 4.5 | 5.1 | 3.6 | 4.2 | 3.5 | 2.6 | 1.6 | 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
- 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.
- 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.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Reiman Gardens, closest first.
Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Sandpiper Recreation Area29 km (18 mi) · reservable
- Prairie Flower Recreation Area29 km (18 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Reiman Gardens?
What time is golden hour at Reiman Gardens?
Where does the sun rise and set at Reiman Gardens?
Can you see the Milky Way from Reiman Gardens?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Reiman Gardens?
How far is Reiman Gardens from Ames?
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.