Greensboro Arboretum — a botanical garden in Guilford County, North Carolina — is a rewarding subject for landscape photographers. The nearest town is Greensboro, about 4.4 km (2.7 mi) away (Greensboro Arboretum lies W of town).
Greensboro Arboretum (17 acres) is an arboretum located in Lindley Park at 401 Ashland Drive, Greensboro, North Carolina and is open to the public daily without charge. The arboretum features landscaped grounds with labeled plant collections, annual and perennial flowers, an arbor, gazebo and a lighted fountain, including the following displays and collections: Butterfly Garden Conifer Collection Dwarf Conifer Collection (more than 80 species of small conifers) Groundcover Collection Holly Garden Hosta Collection (approximately 200 hostas) Hydrophytic Collection Rhododendron Garden (over 70 varieties) Rose Garden Shade Shrub Collection Small Tree Collection Sun Shrub Collection Vine Collection & Perennial Border Wildflower Trail Winter Garden Collection Woodland TrailFrom the Wikipedia article “Greensboro Arboretum”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Greensboro Arboretum 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 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 77° in summer but only 30° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:24 AM | 90° E | 7:31 PM | 271° W | 54° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:04 AM | 60° ENE | 8:40 PM | 300° WNW | 77° | 14h 37m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:08 AM | 89° E | 7:18 PM | 271° W | 54° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:27 AM | 119° ESE | 5:09 PM | 241° WSW | 30° | 9h 42m |
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 | 7:02 AM | 7:30 AM | 8:09 AM | 4:50 PM | 5:29 PM | 5:57 PM | 9h 59m |
| February | 6:42 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:43 AM | 5:26 PM | 6:01 PM | 6:27 PM | 10h 53m |
| March | 7:06 AM | 7:31 AM | 8:05 AM | 6:53 PM | 7:27 PM | 7:53 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:20 AM | 6:47 AM | 7:21 AM | 7:19 PM | 7:53 PM | 8:20 PM | 13h 06m |
| May | 5:46 AM | 6:14 AM | 6:51 AM | 7:42 PM | 8:19 PM | 8:47 PM | 14h 04m |
| June | 5:33 AM | 6:03 AM | 6:41 AM | 8:01 PM | 8:39 PM | 9:09 PM | 14h 36m |
| July | 5:45 AM | 6:15 AM | 6:52 AM | 8:00 PM | 8:37 PM | 9:07 PM | 14h 23m |
| August | 6:11 AM | 6:38 AM | 7:14 AM | 7:36 PM | 8:11 PM | 8:38 PM | 13h 33m |
| September | 6:37 AM | 7:03 AM | 7:36 AM | 6:55 PM | 7:28 PM | 7:54 PM | 12h 26m |
| October | 7:01 AM | 7:27 AM | 8:01 AM | 6:10 PM | 6:45 PM | 7:11 PM | 11h 18m |
| November | 6:30 AM | 6:57 AM | 7:34 AM | 4:36 PM | 5:13 PM | 5:40 PM | 10h 16m |
| December | 6:55 AM | 7:24 AM | 8:03 AM | 4:27 PM | 5:07 PM | 5:36 PM | 9h 43m |
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 Greensboro Arboretum, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 25° 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 | — | 0° | — |
| February | 5:07 AM – 5:37 AM | 0.5 | 15° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:12 AM – 6:02 AM | 1.8 | 22° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:13 AM – 5:13 AM | 3.0 | 25° | SE → S |
| May | 12:19 AM – 4:29 AM | 4.2 | 25° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:28 PM – 4:08 AM | 5.7 | 25° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:22 PM – 2:42 AM | 4.3 | 25° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:45 PM – 12:45 AM | 3.0 | 25° | S → SW |
| September | 8:55 PM – 10:45 PM | 1.8 | 22° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:10 PM – 8:40 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 ≈ 18.66 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show November as the clearest month (about 47% average cloud cover) and May 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 | 73 | 76 | 83 | 89 | 94 | 105 | 104 | 105 | 99 | 101 | 82 | 75 |
| Low °F | 7 | 3 | 1 | 24 | 34 | 46 | 56 | 53 | 40 | 28 | 18 | 2 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.9 | 3.1 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 4.2 | 4.7 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 3.6 |
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 Greensboro Arboretum, closest first.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Greensboro Arboretum?
What time is golden hour at Greensboro Arboretum?
Where does the sun rise and set at Greensboro Arboretum?
Can you see the Milky Way from Greensboro Arboretum?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Greensboro Arboretum?
How far is Greensboro Arboretum from Greensboro?
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.