Located in Payne County, Oklahoma, Oklahoma Botanical Garden and Arboretum is a botanical garden. The nearest town is Stillwater, about 4.0 km (2.5 mi) away (Oklahoma Botanical Garden and Arboretum lies W of town).
The Botanic Garden at Oklahoma State University is a 100 acres (40 ha) botanical garden and arboretum located just west of the Oklahoma State University campus, Stillwater, Oklahoma. It is open from dawn to dusk daily. The garden features over 1,000 species of herbaceous and woody plants apportioned between the Oklahoma Gardening studio gardens (5 acres), and turf and nursery research. Display gardens include annuals and perennials, water garden, rock garden, butterfly garden, wildscape garden, Japanese tea garden, and yearly theme gardens.From the Wikipedia article “The Botanic Garden at Oklahoma State University”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Oklahoma Botanical Garden and 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) | 7:33 AM | 90° E | 7:40 PM | 271° W | 54° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:12 AM | 60° ENE | 8:49 PM | 300° WNW | 77° | 14h 37m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:17 AM | 89° E | 7:27 PM | 271° W | 54° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:36 AM | 119° ESE | 5:18 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 | 7:11 AM | 7:39 AM | 8:18 AM | 4:59 PM | 5:38 PM | 6:06 PM | 9h 58m |
| February | 6:51 AM | 7:17 AM | 7:52 AM | 5:35 PM | 6:10 PM | 6:36 PM | 10h 53m |
| March | 7:15 AM | 7:40 AM | 8:14 AM | 7:02 PM | 7:36 PM | 8:02 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:29 AM | 6:56 AM | 7:30 AM | 7:28 PM | 8:02 PM | 8:29 PM | 13h 06m |
| May | 5:55 AM | 6:23 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:52 PM | 8:28 PM | 8:57 PM | 14h 05m |
| June | 5:41 AM | 6:12 AM | 6:50 AM | 8:10 PM | 8:48 PM | 9:18 PM | 14h 36m |
| July | 5:54 AM | 6:23 AM | 7:01 AM | 8:09 PM | 8:46 PM | 9:16 PM | 14h 23m |
| August | 6:20 AM | 6:47 AM | 7:23 AM | 7:45 PM | 8:20 PM | 8:47 PM | 13h 33m |
| September | 6:46 AM | 7:12 AM | 7:46 AM | 7:04 PM | 7:37 PM | 8:03 PM | 12h 26m |
| October | 7:10 AM | 7:36 AM | 8:11 AM | 6:19 PM | 6:54 PM | 7:20 PM | 11h 18m |
| November | 6:39 AM | 7:06 AM | 7:43 AM | 4:44 PM | 5:22 PM | 5:49 PM | 10h 16m |
| December | 7:04 AM | 7:33 AM | 8:13 AM | 4:36 PM | 5:16 PM | 5:45 PM | 9h 43m |
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 Oklahoma Botanical Garden and 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 6 (bright suburban 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 | — | 0° | — |
| February | 5:16 AM – 5:46 AM | 0.5 | 15° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:21 AM – 6:11 AM | 1.8 | 22° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:22 AM – 5:22 AM | 3.0 | 25° | SE → S |
| May | 12:28 AM – 4:38 AM | 4.2 | 25° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:37 PM – 4:17 AM | 5.7 | 25° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:31 PM – 2:51 AM | 4.3 | 25° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:54 PM – 12:54 AM | 3.0 | 25° | S → SW |
| September | 9:04 PM – 10:44 PM | 1.7 | 22° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:19 PM – 8:49 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: 6 Bortle 6 — Bright suburban sky. The Milky Way is only visible near the zenith; the sky glows grey-orange in photos. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 19.23 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show July as the clearest month (about 40% 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 | 75 | 78 | 86 | 100 | 103 | 108 | 113 | 115 | 107 | 95 | 87 | 76 |
| Low °F | -7 | -1 | 2 | 23 | 34 | 51 | 58 | 53 | 44 | 21 | 16 | 7 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.1 | 1.6 | 2.2 | 3.4 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 1.3 | 1.2 |
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 Oklahoma Botanical Garden and Arboretum, closest first.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Oklahoma Botanical Garden and Arboretum?
What time is golden hour at Oklahoma Botanical Garden and Arboretum?
Where does the sun rise and set at Oklahoma Botanical Garden and Arboretum?
Can you see the Milky Way from Oklahoma Botanical Garden and Arboretum?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Oklahoma Botanical Garden and Arboretum?
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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.