Botanical Gardens at Asheville is a botanical garden in Buncombe County, North Carolina. The nearest town is Asheville, about 1.8 km (1.1 mi) away (Botanical Gardens at Asheville lies NW of town).
Asheville Botanical Garden, formerly known as the Botanical Gardens at Asheville, is an independent non-profit botanical garden located on 10 acres at 151 W. T. Weaver Boulevard in Asheville, North Carolina. Dedicated to the study and promotion of the native plants and habitats of the Southern Appalachians, the garden is open daily with free admission for all. Funds to operate and maintain the garden come from membership and donations. Volunteers collaborate with a small paid staff, making this the "people's garden."From the Wikipedia article “Botanical Gardens at Asheville”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Botanical Gardens at Asheville the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 60° (ENE) at the June solstice and 119° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 300° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 78° in summer but only 31° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:35 AM | 90° E | 7:42 PM | 271° W | 54° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:16 AM | 60° ENE | 8:50 PM | 300° WNW | 78° | 14h 34m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:19 AM | 89° E | 7:29 PM | 271° W | 55° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:37 AM | 119° ESE | 5:21 PM | 242° WSW | 31° | 9h 45m |
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 | 7:12 AM | 7:40 AM | 8:18 AM | 5:02 PM | 5:41 PM | 6:08 PM | 10h 01m |
| February | 6:52 AM | 7:18 AM | 7:53 AM | 5:37 PM | 6:13 PM | 6:39 PM | 10h 55m |
| March | 7:17 AM | 7:42 AM | 8:16 AM | 7:04 PM | 7:38 PM | 8:04 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:32 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:32 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:04 PM | 8:30 PM | 13h 05m |
| May | 5:58 AM | 6:26 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:53 PM | 8:29 PM | 8:57 PM | 14h 02m |
| June | 5:45 AM | 6:15 AM | 6:53 AM | 8:10 PM | 8:48 PM | 9:18 PM | 14h 33m |
| July | 5:57 AM | 6:27 AM | 7:04 AM | 8:10 PM | 8:47 PM | 9:16 PM | 14h 20m |
| August | 6:23 AM | 6:50 AM | 7:25 AM | 7:46 PM | 8:21 PM | 8:48 PM | 13h 31m |
| September | 6:48 AM | 7:14 AM | 7:47 AM | 7:06 PM | 7:39 PM | 8:05 PM | 12h 25m |
| October | 7:12 AM | 7:37 AM | 8:12 AM | 6:22 PM | 6:56 PM | 7:22 PM | 11h 19m |
| November | 6:40 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:44 AM | 4:48 PM | 5:25 PM | 5:52 PM | 10h 18m |
| December | 7:05 AM | 7:33 AM | 8:13 AM | 4:40 PM | 5:19 PM | 5:48 PM | 9h 46m |
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 Botanical Gardens at Asheville, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.8 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 26° 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 | — | -1° | — |
| February | 5:18 AM – 5:48 AM | 0.5 | 15° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:23 AM – 6:13 AM | 1.8 | 22° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:23 AM – 5:23 AM | 3.0 | 25° | SE → S |
| May | 12:28 AM – 4:38 AM | 4.2 | 26° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:36 PM – 4:26 AM | 5.8 | 26° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:31 PM – 3:01 AM | 4.5 | 26° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:54 PM – 12:54 AM | 3.0 | 25° | S → SW |
| September | 9:05 PM – 10:55 PM | 1.8 | 22° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:21 PM – 8:51 PM | 0.5 | 15° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 2° | — |
| 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 ≈ 18.47 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 47% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (60%). 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 | 70 | 72 | 79 | 81 | 88 | 101 | 100 | 98 | 94 | 92 | 80 | 72 |
| Low °F | -2 | -3 | 5 | 21 | 32 | 42 | 49 | 47 | 35 | 24 | 9 | 5 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.8 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 5.3 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 3.8 | 4.1 | 4.8 |
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
- 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.
- 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 Botanical Gardens at Asheville, closest first.
Mountain Pass
Waterfall
Mountain Pass
Scenic Viewpoint
Scenic Viewpoint
Botanical Garden
Mountain PassScenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Lake Powhatan Glamping15.7 km (9.7 mi) · reservable
- Lake Powhatan15.7 km (9.7 mi) · reservable
- Wash Creek Horse Camp23 km (14 mi) · reservable
- North Mills River24 km (15 mi) · reservable
- Mount Pisgah Campground29 km (18 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Botanical Gardens at Asheville?
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Where does the sun rise and set at Botanical Gardens at Asheville?
Can you see the Milky Way from Botanical Gardens at Asheville?
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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.