Nichols Arboretum — a botanical garden in Washtenaw County, Michigan at about 243 m (797 ft) above sea level — is a classic subject for landscape photographers. It sits roughly 1.5 km (0.9 mi) ENE of Ann Arbor.
Nichols Arboretum, locally known as the Arb, is an arboretum on the campus of the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Arb is located adjacent to the Huron River, and features over 400 species, including 110 species of trees, in a varied, hilly landscape. A signature feature of Nichols Arboretum is the W. E. Upjohn Peony Garden, which features the largest collection of heirloom peonies in North America. Nichols Arboretum was designed by noted American landscape gardener and University of Michigan alumnus O. C. Simonds, and opened in 1907. The 128-acre (52 ha) arboretum is named for Esther Connor Nichols and her husband Walter, who donated part of the land for the arboretum in 1906.From the Wikipedia article “Nichols Arboretum”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Nichols Arboretum 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) | 7:39 AM | 90° E | 7:47 PM | 271° W | 48° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:59 AM | 57° ENE | 9:16 PM | 304° WNW | 71° | 15h 16m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:23 AM | 89° E | 7:34 PM | 271° W | 48° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 8:01 AM | 122° ESE | 5:06 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 | 7:31 AM | 8:02 AM | 8:46 AM | 4:44 PM | 5:28 PM | 5:59 PM | 9h 26m |
| February | 7:04 AM | 7:32 AM | 8:12 AM | 5:28 PM | 6:08 PM | 6:36 PM | 10h 35m |
| March | 7:20 AM | 7:48 AM | 8:25 AM | 7:04 PM | 7:42 PM | 8:09 PM | 11h 54m |
| April | 6:26 AM | 6:55 AM | 7:32 AM | 7:39 PM | 8:16 PM | 8:45 PM | 13h 22m |
| May | 5:42 AM | 6:15 AM | 6:55 AM | 8:09 PM | 8:50 PM | 9:22 PM | 14h 35m |
| June | 5:24 AM | 5:59 AM | 6:41 AM | 8:31 PM | 9:14 PM | 9:48 PM | 15h 15m |
| July | 5:39 AM | 6:12 AM | 6:54 AM | 8:29 PM | 9:11 PM | 9:44 PM | 14h 58m |
| August | 6:13 AM | 6:43 AM | 7:22 AM | 7:59 PM | 8:38 PM | 9:08 PM | 13h 55m |
| September | 6:47 AM | 7:16 AM | 7:53 AM | 7:10 PM | 7:46 PM | 8:15 PM | 12h 31m |
| October | 7:20 AM | 7:48 AM | 8:26 AM | 6:16 PM | 6:54 PM | 7:23 PM | 11h 06m |
| November | 6:56 AM | 7:26 AM | 8:08 AM | 4:33 PM | 5:15 PM | 5:45 PM | 9h 48m |
| December | 7:26 AM | 7:58 AM | 8:43 AM | 4:19 PM | 5:04 PM | 5:36 PM | 9h 06m |
Local time (America/Detroit), 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 Nichols Arboretum, 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 | 5:15 AM – 6:05 AM | 0.8 | 15° | SSE → SSE |
| April | 3:08 AM – 5:08 AM | 2.0 | 18° | SE → S |
| May | 1:17 AM – 4:07 AM | 2.8 | 19° | SSE → S |
| June | 11:27 PM – 3:37 AM | 4.2 | 19° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 11:17 PM – 2:17 AM | 3.0 | 19° | S → SSW |
| August | 10:25 PM – 12:15 AM | 1.8 | 18° | S → SSW |
| September | 9:22 PM – 10:12 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 ≈ 18.51 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 49% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (79%). 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 | 59 | 65 | 82 | 80 | 89 | 96 | 99 | 99 | 94 | 88 | 75 | 64 |
| Low °F | -18 | -19 | -12 | 5 | 24 | 37 | 42 | 46 | 36 | 25 | 8 | -5 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.0 | 2.3 | 2.2 | 3.2 | 3.9 | 3.5 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 3.1 | 3.0 | 2.5 | 2.2 |
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
- 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.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Nichols Arboretum, closest first.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Nichols Arboretum?
What time is golden hour at Nichols Arboretum?
Where does the sun rise and set at Nichols Arboretum?
Can you see the Milky Way from Nichols Arboretum?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Nichols Arboretum?
How far is Nichols Arboretum from Ann Arbor?
Sources
Location data: Wikidata, USGS GNIS / GeoNames, 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.