Located in Fayette County, Kentucky, University of Kentucky Arboretum is a botanical garden. It sits roughly 1.4 km (0.9 mi) SSW of Mount Vernon.
The Arboretum, State Botanical Garden of Kentucky (Also known as University of Kentucky Arboretum or Lexington Arboretum), 40 hectares or 100 acres (0.40 km2), is located at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky, United States. It is open to the public from dawn to dusk every day of the year. The Arboretum hosts 18 tree species native to Kentucky, as well as 80 other native Kentucky plant species. In total, the Arboretum contains more than 1,200 native species.From the Wikipedia article “University of Kentucky Arboretum”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At University of Kentucky Arboretum the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 301° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 75° in summer but only 29° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:42 AM | 90° E | 7:50 PM | 271° W | 52° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:16 AM | 59° ENE | 9:05 PM | 301° WNW | 75° | 14h 48m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:26 AM | 89° E | 7:37 PM | 271° W | 52° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:51 AM | 120° ESE | 5:23 PM | 241° WSW | 29° | 9h 31m |
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 | 7:25 AM | 7:53 AM | 8:33 AM | 5:03 PM | 5:43 PM | 6:11 PM | 9h 49m |
| February | 7:02 AM | 7:29 AM | 8:06 AM | 5:41 PM | 6:17 PM | 6:44 PM | 10h 48m |
| March | 7:24 AM | 7:50 AM | 8:25 AM | 7:11 PM | 7:45 PM | 8:12 PM | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:36 AM | 7:03 AM | 7:39 AM | 7:39 PM | 8:14 PM | 8:41 PM | 13h 11m |
| May | 5:59 AM | 6:29 AM | 7:06 AM | 8:04 PM | 8:42 PM | 9:11 PM | 14h 13m |
| June | 5:44 AM | 6:16 AM | 6:55 AM | 8:24 PM | 9:03 PM | 9:34 PM | 14h 47m |
| July | 5:57 AM | 6:28 AM | 7:06 AM | 8:23 PM | 9:01 PM | 9:32 PM | 14h 33m |
| August | 6:26 AM | 6:54 AM | 7:30 AM | 7:57 PM | 8:33 PM | 9:01 PM | 13h 39m |
| September | 6:54 AM | 7:21 AM | 7:55 AM | 7:13 PM | 7:48 PM | 8:14 PM | 12h 27m |
| October | 7:21 AM | 7:47 AM | 8:23 AM | 6:26 PM | 7:02 PM | 7:28 PM | 11h 15m |
| November | 6:51 AM | 7:20 AM | 7:58 AM | 4:49 PM | 5:27 PM | 5:56 PM | 10h 08m |
| December | 7:18 AM | 7:48 AM | 8:29 AM | 4:39 PM | 5:20 PM | 5:50 PM | 9h 33m |
Local time (America/New York), 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 University of Kentucky Arboretum, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 23° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 8 (city 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 | — | -1° | — |
| February | 5:35 AM – 5:55 AM | 0.3 | 13° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:43 AM – 6:13 AM | 1.5 | 19° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:47 AM – 5:27 AM | 2.7 | 23° | SE → S |
| May | 12:47 AM – 4:37 AM | 3.8 | 23° | SE → S |
| June | 10:58 PM – 4:18 AM | 5.3 | 23° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:52 PM – 2:52 AM | 4.0 | 23° | SSE → SW |
| August | 10:11 PM – 12:51 AM | 2.7 | 23° | S → SW |
| September | 9:17 PM – 10:47 PM | 1.5 | 20° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:29 PM – 8:49 PM | 0.3 | 13° | 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: 8 Bortle 8 — City sky. Only bright constellations are visible; the sky glows orange or white. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 18.29 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 8.0+ 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 47% average cloud cover) and January as the cloudiest (72%). 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 | 69 | 73 | 81 | 85 | 94 | 103 | 107 | 103 | 101 | 96 | 82 | 71 |
| Low °F | -3 | -8 | 8 | 22 | 27 | 43 | 51 | 48 | 38 | 24 | 11 | -4 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.0 | 3.6 | 3.9 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 3.1 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 3.4 | 3.8 |
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 University of Kentucky Arboretum, closest first.
Botanical Garden
Botanical Garden
State Park
State Park
State ParkFAQ
When is the best time to photograph University of Kentucky Arboretum?
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Do you need a permit to photograph at University of Kentucky Arboretum?
How far is University of Kentucky Arboretum from Mount Vernon?
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.