Located in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, Mount Holyoke College Botanic Garden is a botanical garden.
The Mount Holyoke College Botanic Garden, in South Hadley, Massachusetts, United States, encompasses the Mount Holyoke College campus, an arboretum, numerous gardens, and the Talcott Greenhouse. It was first designated a botanical garden in 1878, with guidance from Lydia Shattuck, professor of botany. The construction of the Talcott Greenhouse complex, which houses the Botanic Garden's collection of non-hardy plants, began in 1896, after the original greenhouse was destroyed by fire, and was completed in 1899. The Botanic Garden serves as an outdoor teaching laboratory as well as a place to arrange and display plants on campus. The Talcott Greenhouse maintains a permanent collection in addition to space for research and teaching purposes.From the Wikipedia article “Mount Holyoke College Botanic Garden”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Mount Holyoke College Botanic Garden 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 304° (WNW) in June to 239° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 71° in summer but only 24° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:55 AM | 90° E | 7:03 PM | 271° W | 48° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:15 AM | 57° ENE | 8:31 PM | 304° WNW | 71° | 15h 16m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:38 AM | 89° E | 6:49 PM | 271° W | 48° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:17 AM | 122° ESE | 4:22 PM | 239° WSW | 24° | 9h 05m |
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 | 6:46 AM | 7:17 AM | 8:01 AM | 4:00 PM | 4:43 PM | 5:14 PM | 9h 26m |
| February | 6:19 AM | 6:48 AM | 7:27 AM | 4:44 PM | 5:23 PM | 5:52 PM | 10h 35m |
| March | 6:35 AM | 7:03 AM | 7:40 AM | 6:20 PM | 6:57 PM | 7:25 PM | 11h 54m |
| April | 5:41 AM | 6:10 AM | 6:48 AM | 6:54 PM | 7:32 PM | 8:01 PM | 13h 21m |
| May | 4:58 AM | 5:30 AM | 6:10 AM | 7:25 PM | 8:05 PM | 8:37 PM | 14h 35m |
| June | 4:39 AM | 5:14 AM | 5:57 AM | 7:47 PM | 8:29 PM | 9:04 PM | 15h 15m |
| July | 4:54 AM | 5:28 AM | 6:09 AM | 7:44 PM | 8:26 PM | 8:59 PM | 14h 58m |
| August | 5:28 AM | 5:58 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:14 PM | 7:53 PM | 8:23 PM | 13h 55m |
| September | 6:03 AM | 6:31 AM | 7:08 AM | 6:25 PM | 7:02 PM | 7:30 PM | 12h 31m |
| October | 6:35 AM | 7:03 AM | 7:42 AM | 5:32 PM | 6:10 PM | 6:38 PM | 11h 07m |
| November | 6:11 AM | 6:42 AM | 7:23 AM | 3:48 PM | 4:30 PM | 5:00 PM | 9h 48m |
| December | 6:41 AM | 7:13 AM | 7:58 AM | 3:34 PM | 4:20 PM | 4:51 PM | 9h 07m |
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 Mount Holyoke College Botanic Garden, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.2 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 | — | 9° | — |
| March | 4:30 AM – 5:20 AM | 0.8 | 15° | SSE → SSE |
| April | 2:23 AM – 4:23 AM | 2.0 | 18° | SE → S |
| May | 12:32 AM – 3:22 AM | 2.8 | 19° | SSE → S |
| June | 10:42 PM – 2:52 AM | 4.2 | 19° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 10:32 PM – 1:32 AM | 3.0 | 19° | S → SSW |
| August | 9:40 PM – 11:30 PM | 1.8 | 18° | S → SSW |
| September | 8:37 PM – 9:27 PM | 0.8 | 15° | SSW → SSW |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 9° | — |
| 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 ≈ 18.86 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 5.5+ 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 51% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (68%). 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 | 63 | 67 | 74 | 87 | 87 | 90 | 97 | 99 | 96 | 85 | 72 | 67 |
| Low °F | -22 | -19 | -13 | 12 | 27 | 36 | 48 | 47 | 36 | 18 | 2 | -13 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.9 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 4.8 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.8 | 3.5 | 4.2 |
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
- 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.
- Bring a spare battery — cold weather and long exposures drain them fast.
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 Mount Holyoke College Botanic Garden, closest first.
Mountain Peak
State Park
Mountain Peak
State Park
Waterfall
Mountain Peak
State Park
Mountain Peak
LakeCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Mount Holyoke College Botanic Garden?
What time is golden hour at Mount Holyoke College Botanic Garden?
Where does the sun rise and set at Mount Holyoke College Botanic Garden?
Can you see the Milky Way from Mount Holyoke College Botanic Garden?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Mount Holyoke College Botanic Garden?
How far is Mount Holyoke College Botanic Garden from South Hadley?
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.