The Bog Garden — a botanical garden in Guilford County, North Carolina — is a popular subject for landscape photographers. The nearest town is Greensboro, about 4.6 km (2.9 mi) away (The Bog Garden lies WNW of town).
The Bog Garden is a nature preserve, botanical garden, and city park located at 1101 Hobbs Road, Greensboro, North Carolina. It is open daily; admission is free. Originally part of Starmount Farms, the land that comprises the park was donated to the City of Greensboro Parks and Recreation department by the Starmount Company in 1987. A local primary care physician, Dr. Joe Christian, took interest in the area and worked with city staff, volunteers, and local nurseries to plan and rehabilitate the park into an example of a wetland environment using plants native to the area. In 2005, a 150-foot man-made waterfall was installed in the park, and dedicated in "Dr. Joe's" memory in 2007. The garden features a bog and lake that may be viewed from a half-mile long elevated boardwalk. Its plants include indigenous vegetation, with individually labeled trees, shrubs, ferns, and bamboo, as well...From the Wikipedia article “The Bog Garden”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At The Bog Garden 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) | 6:03 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 58m |
| 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 05m |
| June | 5:32 AM | 6:03 AM | 6:41 AM | 8:01 PM | 8:39 PM | 9:09 PM | 14h 36m |
| July | 5:45 AM | 6:14 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 | 4:35 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 The Bog Garden, 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
- 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 The Bog Garden, closest first.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph The Bog Garden?
What time is golden hour at The Bog Garden?
Where does the sun rise and set at The Bog Garden?
Can you see the Milky Way from The Bog Garden?
Do you need a permit to photograph at The Bog Garden?
How far is The Bog Garden 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.