![*description:Dexter Memorial at Spring Grove Cemetery. photographer: Jeffrey Horvath photographer_url: [1] flickr_url: [2] taken:March 4, 2007](https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6c/Dexter_Memorial.jpg/960px-Dexter_Memorial.jpg)
Located in Hamilton County, Ohio, Spring Grove Cemetery is a botanical garden. It sits roughly 2.1 km (1.3 mi) W of Saint Bernard. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum is a nonprofit rural cemetery and arboretum located at 4521 Spring Grove Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. At a size of 733 acres (2.97 km2), it is the third largest cemetery in the United States, after the Calverton National Cemetery and Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery. The cemetery dates back to 1844 and is recognized as a US National Historic Landmark due to its age, architecture, and notable burials.From the Wikipedia article “Spring Grove Cemetery”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Spring Grove Cemetery the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 302° (WNW) in June to 240° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 74° in summer but only 27° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:42 AM | 90° E | 7:50 PM | 271° W | 51° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:13 AM | 59° ENE | 9:08 PM | 302° WNW | 74° | 14h 55m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:26 AM | 89° E | 7:37 PM | 271° W | 51° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:55 AM | 120° ESE | 5:19 PM | 240° WSW | 27° | 9h 25m |
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 | 7:27 AM | 7:57 AM | 8:37 AM | 4:59 PM | 5:40 PM | 6:09 PM | 9h 43m |
| February | 7:03 AM | 7:31 AM | 8:08 AM | 5:38 PM | 6:16 PM | 6:43 PM | 10h 45m |
| March | 7:24 AM | 7:50 AM | 8:26 AM | 7:10 PM | 7:45 PM | 8:12 PM | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:34 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:38 AM | 7:40 PM | 8:15 PM | 8:43 PM | 13h 13m |
| May | 5:56 AM | 6:26 AM | 7:04 AM | 8:07 PM | 8:45 PM | 9:15 PM | 14h 19m |
| June | 5:40 AM | 6:12 AM | 6:52 AM | 8:27 PM | 9:07 PM | 9:39 PM | 14h 54m |
| July | 5:54 AM | 6:25 AM | 7:04 AM | 8:25 PM | 9:04 PM | 9:36 PM | 14h 40m |
| August | 6:23 AM | 6:52 AM | 7:29 AM | 7:58 PM | 8:35 PM | 9:04 PM | 13h 43m |
| September | 6:53 AM | 7:20 AM | 7:55 AM | 7:13 PM | 7:48 PM | 8:15 PM | 12h 28m |
| October | 7:21 AM | 7:48 AM | 8:24 AM | 6:25 PM | 7:01 PM | 7:28 PM | 11h 13m |
| November | 6:54 AM | 7:22 AM | 8:02 AM | 4:46 PM | 5:25 PM | 5:54 PM | 10h 03m |
| December | 7:21 AM | 7:51 AM | 8:33 AM | 4:35 PM | 5:17 PM | 5:47 PM | 9h 26m |
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 Spring Grove Cemetery, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 22° 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 | — | -2° | — |
| February | 5:45 AM – 5:55 AM | 0.2 | 12° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:54 AM – 6:14 AM | 1.3 | 18° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:51 AM – 5:21 AM | 2.5 | 22° | SE → S |
| May | 12:53 AM – 4:33 AM | 3.7 | 22° | SE → S |
| June | 11:07 PM – 4:07 AM | 5.0 | 22° | SE → SSW |
| July | 10:59 PM – 2:39 AM | 3.7 | 22° | SSE → SW |
| August | 10:15 PM – 12:45 AM | 2.5 | 22° | S → SW |
| September | 9:19 PM – 10:39 PM | 1.3 | 18° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:30 PM – 8:40 PM | 0.2 | 12° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 0° | — |
| 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: 8 Bortle 8 — City sky. Only bright constellations are visible; the sky glows orange or white. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 18.36 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 7.0+ 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 45% average cloud cover) and January as the cloudiest (75%). 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 | 73 | 81 | 83 | 87 | 98 | 102 | 100 | 98 | 94 | 79 | 70 |
| Low °F | -12 | -8 | 5 | 22 | 26 | 41 | 49 | 49 | 37 | 25 | 10 | -10 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.9 | 3.0 | 3.7 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 3.8 | 3.0 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 3.1 | 3.2 |
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
- 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.
- A macro lens or close-up filter opens a world of detail — try a shallow aperture against a soft background.
- Tell someone where you're going in remote areas and carry the ten essentials.
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 Spring Grove Cemetery, closest first.
Botanical Garden
Botanical Garden
Botanical Garden
Scenic Viewpoint
Botanical Garden
Covered Bridge
Botanical Garden
Covered BridgeFAQ
When is the best time to photograph Spring Grove Cemetery?
What time is golden hour at Spring Grove Cemetery?
Where does the sun rise and set at Spring Grove Cemetery?
Can you see the Milky Way from Spring Grove Cemetery?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Spring Grove Cemetery?
How far is Spring Grove Cemetery from Saint Bernard?
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.