Louisiana Tech University Arboretum — a botanical garden in Lincoln Parish, Louisiana — is a lesser-known subject for landscape photographers. The nearest town is Ruston, about 800 m away (Louisiana Tech University Arboretum lies NNW of town).
The Louisiana Tech University Arboretum (50 acres, 20 hectares) is located on the South Campus of the Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana. The arboretum is used by the university's School of Forestry as a research facility.From the Wikipedia article “Louisiana Tech University Arboretum”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Louisiana Tech University Arboretum the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 61° (ENE) at the June solstice and 118° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 299° (WNW) in June to 243° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 81° in summer but only 34° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:15 AM | 90° E | 7:22 PM | 271° W | 57° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:04 AM | 61° ENE | 8:22 PM | 299° WNW | 81° | 14h 17m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:59 AM | 89° E | 7:09 PM | 271° W | 58° | 12h 09m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:09 AM | 118° ESE | 5:10 PM | 243° WSW | 34° | 10h 01m |
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 | 6:47 AM | 7:13 AM | 7:50 AM | 4:51 PM | 5:28 PM | 5:55 PM | 10h 15m |
| February | 6:29 AM | 6:54 AM | 7:28 AM | 5:23 PM | 5:57 PM | 6:22 PM | 11h 02m |
| March | 6:57 AM | 7:22 AM | 7:54 AM | 6:46 PM | 7:19 PM | 7:43 PM | 11h 57m |
| April | 6:17 AM | 6:42 AM | 7:15 AM | 7:08 PM | 7:41 PM | 8:06 PM | 12h 59m |
| May | 5:46 AM | 6:13 AM | 6:48 AM | 7:28 PM | 8:03 PM | 8:30 PM | 13h 49m |
| June | 5:35 AM | 6:04 AM | 6:40 AM | 7:44 PM | 8:20 PM | 8:49 PM | 14h 17m |
| July | 5:47 AM | 6:14 AM | 6:50 AM | 7:44 PM | 8:20 PM | 8:48 PM | 14h 05m |
| August | 6:09 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:23 PM | 7:57 PM | 8:23 PM | 13h 22m |
| September | 6:30 AM | 6:55 AM | 7:28 AM | 6:46 PM | 7:18 PM | 7:43 PM | 12h 23m |
| October | 6:50 AM | 7:15 AM | 7:48 AM | 6:06 PM | 6:39 PM | 7:04 PM | 11h 24m |
| November | 6:15 AM | 6:41 AM | 7:17 AM | 4:36 PM | 5:11 PM | 5:37 PM | 10h 30m |
| December | 6:39 AM | 7:06 AM | 7:43 AM | 4:30 PM | 5:07 PM | 5:35 PM | 10h 02m |
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 Louisiana Tech University Arboretum, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 29° 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 | — | 1° | — |
| February | 4:40 AM – 5:30 AM | 0.8 | 17° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:51 AM – 5:51 AM | 2.0 | 25° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:47 AM – 5:07 AM | 3.3 | 28° | SE → S |
| May | 11:47 PM – 4:37 AM | 4.8 | 29° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:02 PM – 4:22 AM | 6.3 | 29° | SE → SW |
| July | 9:58 PM – 2:48 AM | 4.8 | 29° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:26 PM – 12:46 AM | 3.3 | 29° | S → SW |
| September | 8:42 PM – 10:52 PM | 2.2 | 25° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:01 PM – 8:51 PM | 0.8 | 18° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 3° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -18° | — |
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 ≈ 19.27 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 41% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (62%). 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 | 77 | 81 | 86 | 92 | 108 | 108 | 109 | 110 | 105 | 100 | 89 | 81 |
| Low °F | 13 | 19 | 20 | 32 | 38 | 58 | 60 | 54 | 45 | 32 | 19 | 19 |
| Precip. (in) | 4.7 | 5.4 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 3.7 | 3.6 | 5.0 | 4.2 | 5.4 |
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.
- 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.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Louisiana Tech University Arboretum?
What time is golden hour at Louisiana Tech University Arboretum?
Where does the sun rise and set at Louisiana Tech University Arboretum?
Can you see the Milky Way from Louisiana Tech University Arboretum?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Louisiana Tech University Arboretum?
How far is Louisiana Tech University Arboretum from Ruston?
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.