Horton Park (Saint Paul, Minnesota) is a botanical garden in Ramsey County, Minnesota. The nearest town is Falcon Heights, about 3.2 km (2.0 mi) away (Horton Park (Saint Paul, Minnesota) lies SSE of town).
Horton Park is a small arboretum in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States. Known primarily for its variety of trees, Horton Park has become a symbol of the Saint Paul Midway community.From the Wikipedia article “Horton Park (Saint Paul, Minnesota)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Horton Park (Saint Paul, Minnesota) the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 55° (NE) at the June solstice and 123° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 305° (NW) in June to 237° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 68° in summer but only 22° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:17 AM | 90° E | 7:25 PM | 271° W | 45° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:27 AM | 55° NE | 9:04 PM | 305° NW | 68° | 15h 37m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:00 AM | 89° E | 7:12 PM | 271° W | 45° | 12h 12m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:48 AM | 123° ESE | 4:35 PM | 237° WSW | 22° | 8h 46m |
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 | 7:15 AM | 7:48 AM | 8:34 AM | 4:11 PM | 4:57 PM | 5:30 PM | 9h 10m |
| February | 6:44 AM | 7:15 AM | 7:56 AM | 5:00 PM | 5:41 PM | 6:11 PM | 10h 26m |
| March | 6:57 AM | 7:26 AM | 8:05 AM | 6:40 PM | 7:19 PM | 7:48 PM | 11h 53m |
| April | 5:58 AM | 6:29 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:18 PM | 7:58 PM | 8:29 PM | 13h 29m |
| May | 5:10 AM | 5:45 AM | 6:27 AM | 7:53 PM | 8:35 PM | 9:09 PM | 14h 50m |
| June | 4:49 AM | 5:26 AM | 6:11 AM | 8:17 PM | 9:02 PM | 9:39 PM | 15h 35m |
| July | 5:05 AM | 5:41 AM | 6:25 AM | 8:13 PM | 8:57 PM | 9:33 PM | 15h 16m |
| August | 5:43 AM | 6:15 AM | 6:56 AM | 7:40 PM | 8:21 PM | 8:53 PM | 14h 06m |
| September | 6:23 AM | 6:52 AM | 7:31 AM | 6:47 PM | 7:25 PM | 7:55 PM | 12h 33m |
| October | 6:59 AM | 7:29 AM | 8:09 AM | 5:49 PM | 6:29 PM | 6:59 PM | 11h 01m |
| November | 6:39 AM | 7:11 AM | 7:56 AM | 4:01 PM | 4:45 PM | 5:17 PM | 9h 34m |
| December | 7:11 AM | 7:45 AM | 8:33 AM | 3:44 PM | 4:33 PM | 5:06 PM | 8h 48m |
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 Horton Park (Saint Paul, Minnesota), the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from April through August. June gives the longest window (about 3.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 16° 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 | — | -4° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 7° | — |
| March | 5:17 AM – 5:37 AM | 0.3 | 12° | SSE → SSE |
| April | 3:16 AM – 4:36 AM | 1.3 | 15° | SSE → S |
| May | 1:14 AM – 3:24 AM | 2.2 | 16° | SSE → S |
| June | 11:35 PM – 2:45 AM | 3.2 | 16° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 11:19 PM – 1:29 AM | 2.2 | 16° | S → SSW |
| August | 10:16 PM – 11:26 PM | 1.2 | 15° | SSW → SSW |
| September | 9:06 PM – 9:26 PM | 0.3 | 12° | SSW → SSW |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 7° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -3° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -20° | — |
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 ≈ 18.19 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 4.5+ to show low on the northern horizon here.
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show July as the clearest month (about 46% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (69%). 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 | 50 | 61 | 80 | 89 | 96 | 96 | 107 | 100 | 96 | 87 | 78 | 61 |
| Low °F | -37 | -27 | -23 | 4 | 24 | 41 | 46 | 43 | 32 | 12 | -4 | -24 |
| Precip. (in) | 0.6 | 1.1 | 1.7 | 3.1 | 4.1 | 4.8 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 3.4 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 1.2 |
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 Horton Park (Saint Paul, Minnesota), closest first.
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LakeFAQ
When is the best time to photograph Horton Park (Saint Paul, Minnesota)?
What time is golden hour at Horton Park (Saint Paul, Minnesota)?
Where does the sun rise and set at Horton Park (Saint Paul, Minnesota)?
Can you see the Milky Way from Horton Park (Saint Paul, Minnesota)?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Horton Park (Saint Paul, Minnesota)?
How far is Horton Park (Saint Paul, Minnesota) from Falcon Heights?
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.