Leonard J. Buck Garden — a botanical garden in Somerset County, New Jersey — is a classic subject for landscape photographers. It sits roughly 2.1 km (1.3 mi) ESE of Bedminster.
The Leonard J. Buck Garden is a 33 acres (13 ha) public botanical garden and woodland garden operated by the Somerset County Park Commission, and located at 11 Layton Road, Far Hills, New Jersey, United States. The garden is one of the nation's premier rock gardens, featuring native and exotic plants displayed in a naturalistic setting of woodland, streams, and rock outcroppings. A wooded, rocky ravine is home to numerous wildflowers interspersed among flowering trees and shrubs. Its peak visiting time is spring.From the Wikipedia article “Leonard J. Buck Garden”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Leonard J. Buck Garden the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 58° (ENE) at the June solstice and 121° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 303° (WNW) in June to 239° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 73° in summer but only 26° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:03 AM | 90° E | 7:11 PM | 271° W | 49° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:28 AM | 58° ENE | 8:34 PM | 303° WNW | 73° | 15h 05m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:47 AM | 89° E | 6:57 PM | 271° W | 50° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:20 AM | 121° ESE | 4:35 PM | 239° WSW | 26° | 9h 15m |
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 | 6:51 AM | 7:21 AM | 8:03 AM | 4:14 PM | 4:56 PM | 5:26 PM | 9h 35m |
| February | 6:25 AM | 6:53 AM | 7:32 AM | 4:55 PM | 5:34 PM | 6:02 PM | 10h 40m |
| March | 6:44 AM | 7:11 AM | 7:47 AM | 6:29 PM | 7:05 PM | 7:33 PM | 11h 54m |
| April | 5:52 AM | 6:20 AM | 6:57 AM | 7:01 PM | 7:38 PM | 8:06 PM | 13h 17m |
| May | 5:11 AM | 5:42 AM | 6:22 AM | 7:30 PM | 8:09 PM | 8:40 PM | 14h 26m |
| June | 4:54 AM | 5:28 AM | 6:09 AM | 7:51 PM | 8:32 PM | 9:05 PM | 15h 04m |
| July | 5:08 AM | 5:41 AM | 6:21 AM | 7:49 PM | 8:29 PM | 9:02 PM | 14h 48m |
| August | 5:40 AM | 6:10 AM | 6:47 AM | 7:21 PM | 7:58 PM | 8:28 PM | 13h 49m |
| September | 6:12 AM | 6:40 AM | 7:16 AM | 6:33 PM | 7:09 PM | 7:37 PM | 12h 30m |
| October | 6:43 AM | 7:10 AM | 7:47 AM | 5:43 PM | 6:20 PM | 6:47 PM | 11h 10m |
| November | 6:17 AM | 6:46 AM | 7:27 AM | 4:01 PM | 4:42 PM | 5:11 PM | 9h 56m |
| December | 6:45 AM | 7:16 AM | 8:00 AM | 3:49 PM | 4:33 PM | 5:04 PM | 9h 17m |
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 Leonard J. Buck Garden, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 20° 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 | 5:15 AM – 5:15 AM | 0.0 | 11° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:26 AM – 5:36 AM | 1.2 | 17° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:26 AM – 4:36 AM | 2.2 | 20° | SE → S |
| May | 12:21 AM – 3:41 AM | 3.3 | 20° | SE → S |
| June | 10:38 PM – 3:18 AM | 4.7 | 20° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 10:29 PM – 1:49 AM | 3.3 | 20° | S → SW |
| August | 9:41 PM – 11:51 PM | 2.2 | 20° | S → SW |
| September | 8:42 PM – 9:52 PM | 1.2 | 17° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:50 PM – 7:50 PM | 0.0 | 11° | 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 ≈ 18.73 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 6.5+ 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 (64%). 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 | 67 | 71 | 73 | 91 | 88 | 96 | 102 | 101 | 96 | 92 | 75 | 71 |
| Low °F | -2 | -3 | 0 | 24 | 33 | 44 | 52 | 53 | 43 | 28 | 14 | 6 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.1 | 3.4 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 3.8 | 4.4 | 3.6 | 4.4 |
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
- 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.
- 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.
- Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.
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 Leonard J. Buck Garden, closest first.
Botanical Garden
Botanical Garden
Waterfall
Waterfall
State Park
Botanical Garden
National Wildlife Refuge
State Park
Botanical GardenFAQ
When is the best time to photograph Leonard J. Buck Garden?
What time is golden hour at Leonard J. Buck Garden?
Where does the sun rise and set at Leonard J. Buck Garden?
Can you see the Milky Way from Leonard J. Buck Garden?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Leonard J. Buck Garden?
How far is Leonard J. Buck Garden from Bedminster?
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.