Located in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, Myriad Botanical Gardens is a botanical garden. It lies in or next to Oklahoma City National Memorial, so park hours, fees and rules apply.
Myriad Botanical Gardens is a 15 acres (6.1 ha) botanical garden in Oklahoma City’s downtown district. Visitors can explore the Inasmuch Foundation Crystal Bridge Conservatory, which features exterior grounds that are free to roam around.From the Wikipedia article “Myriad Botanical Gardens”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Myriad Botanical Gardens 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 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:16 AM | 60° ENE | 8:49 PM | 300° WNW | 78° | 14h 33m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:19 AM | 89° E | 7:29 PM | 271° W | 55° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:36 AM | 119° ESE | 5:22 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 | 7:39 AM | 8:18 AM | 5:03 PM | 5:41 PM | 6:09 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 | 7:16 AM | 7:42 AM | 8:15 AM | 7:04 PM | 7:38 PM | 8:03 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:32 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:32 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:03 PM | 8:29 PM | 13h 05m |
| May | 5:58 AM | 6:26 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:52 PM | 8:28 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 32m |
| July | 5:58 AM | 6:27 AM | 7:04 AM | 8:09 PM | 8:46 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 | 7:05 PM | 7:39 PM | 8:04 PM | 12h 25m |
| October | 7:11 AM | 7:37 AM | 8:11 AM | 6:22 PM | 6:56 PM | 7:22 PM | 11h 19m |
| November | 6:39 AM | 7:06 AM | 7:43 AM | 4:48 PM | 5:25 PM | 5:52 PM | 10h 18m |
| December | 7:04 AM | 7:33 AM | 8:12 AM | 4:40 PM | 5:19 PM | 5:48 PM | 9h 47m |
Local time (America/Chicago), 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 Myriad Botanical Gardens, 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 ≈ 18.71 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 38% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (56%). 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 | 76 | 83 | 89 | 100 | 102 | 108 | 113 | 116 | 105 | 94 | 84 | 78 |
| Low °F | 0 | 5 | 8 | 24 | 34 | 53 | 58 | 55 | 44 | 21 | 16 | 8 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.2 | 1.7 | 2.4 | 3.6 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 3.2 | 3.6 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 1.6 | 1.4 |
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
- 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.
- Backlit petals glow; position yourself so the sun is behind the flower.
- Shoot RAW to keep the most latitude for high-contrast sunrise and sunset scenes.
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.
Permits, drones & access
National Park Service rules. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones: Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Myriad Botanical Gardens, closest first.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Myriad Botanical Gardens?
What time is golden hour at Myriad Botanical Gardens?
Where does the sun rise and set at Myriad Botanical Gardens?
Can you see the Milky Way from Myriad Botanical Gardens?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Myriad Botanical Gardens?
How far is Myriad Botanical Gardens from Oklahoma City?
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.