Salisbury University Arboretum — a botanical garden in Wicomico County, Maryland — is a popular subject for landscape photographers. It sits roughly 1.7 km (1.1 mi) SSW of Salisbury.
The Salisbury University Arboretum, also known as The Glenda Chatham Clarke Arboretum, (50 ha / 125 acres) is an arboretum on the campus of Salisbury University in Salisbury, Maryland. The collection was begun in 1985. In 1988, the entire university campus was declared an arboretum by the American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta and now contains over 2000 plant species. The arboretum is still under active development with indigenous and exotic plant species added yearly. It is located on the Delmarva Peninsula, an area known as Maryland's Eastern Shore. Midway between the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay, at a latitude of approximately 38 degrees, the climate is suitable for mild-temperate zone plants. In May 2025, the arboretum was named after alumna Glenda Chatham Clarke.From the Wikipedia article “Salisbury University Arboretum”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Salisbury University 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 240° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 75° in summer but only 28° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:07 AM | 90° E | 7:15 PM | 271° W | 52° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:40 AM | 59° ENE | 8:30 PM | 301° WNW | 75° | 14h 50m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:51 AM | 89° E | 7:01 PM | 271° W | 52° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:17 AM | 120° ESE | 4:46 PM | 240° WSW | 28° | 9h 29m |
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 | 6:50 AM | 7:19 AM | 7:59 AM | 4:26 PM | 5:06 PM | 5:35 PM | 9h 47m |
| February | 6:27 AM | 6:54 AM | 7:31 AM | 5:04 PM | 5:41 PM | 6:08 PM | 10h 47m |
| March | 6:48 AM | 7:15 AM | 7:50 AM | 6:35 PM | 7:10 PM | 7:36 PM | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:00 AM | 6:27 AM | 7:03 AM | 7:03 PM | 7:39 PM | 8:06 PM | 13h 11m |
| May | 5:22 AM | 5:52 AM | 6:30 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:07 PM | 8:37 PM | 14h 15m |
| June | 5:07 AM | 5:39 AM | 6:19 AM | 7:49 PM | 8:28 PM | 9:00 PM | 14h 49m |
| July | 5:21 AM | 5:51 AM | 6:30 AM | 7:48 PM | 8:27 PM | 8:57 PM | 14h 35m |
| August | 5:50 AM | 6:18 AM | 6:54 AM | 7:22 PM | 7:58 PM | 8:26 PM | 13h 40m |
| September | 6:18 AM | 6:45 AM | 7:20 AM | 6:38 PM | 7:12 PM | 7:39 PM | 12h 28m |
| October | 6:45 AM | 7:12 AM | 7:48 AM | 5:50 PM | 6:26 PM | 6:53 PM | 11h 14m |
| November | 6:16 AM | 6:45 AM | 7:24 AM | 4:12 PM | 4:51 PM | 5:19 PM | 10h 07m |
| December | 6:43 AM | 7:13 AM | 7:55 AM | 4:02 PM | 4:44 PM | 5:13 PM | 9h 31m |
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 Salisbury University Arboretum, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.2 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 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 | — | -2° | — |
| February | 4:59 AM – 5:19 AM | 0.3 | 13° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:17 AM – 5:37 AM | 1.3 | 19° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:12 AM – 4:42 AM | 2.5 | 22° | SE → S |
| May | 12:12 AM – 4:02 AM | 3.8 | 23° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:24 PM – 3:34 AM | 5.2 | 23° | SE → SSW |
| July | 10:17 PM – 2:17 AM | 4.0 | 23° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:36 PM – 12:16 AM | 2.7 | 23° | S → SW |
| September | 8:41 PM – 10:11 PM | 1.5 | 19° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:53 PM – 8:13 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: 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 ≈ 18.89 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 7.5+ to show low on the northern horizon here.
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show August as the clearest month (about 51% average cloud cover) and January 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 | 72 | 74 | 78 | 88 | 92 | 99 | 103 | 101 | 97 | 95 | 78 | 74 |
| Low °F | 1 | 2 | 11 | 25 | 35 | 49 | 55 | 55 | 45 | 32 | 22 | 14 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.9 | 3.2 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 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
- 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.
- A macro lens or close-up filter opens a world of detail — try a shallow aperture against a soft background.
- Tell someone where you're going in remote areas and carry the ten essentials.
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 Salisbury University Arboretum, closest first.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Salisbury University Arboretum?
What time is golden hour at Salisbury University Arboretum?
Where does the sun rise and set at Salisbury University Arboretum?
Can you see the Milky Way from Salisbury University Arboretum?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Salisbury University Arboretum?
How far is Salisbury University Arboretum from Salisbury?
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.