Furman University Japanese Garden — a botanical garden in Greenville County, South Carolina — is a classic subject for landscape photographers. It sits roughly 4.4 km (2.7 mi) S of Travelers Rest.
Furman University is a private university in Greenville, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1826 and named after Baptist pastor Richard Furman, the liberal arts university is the oldest private institution of higher learning in South Carolina. It became a secular university in 1992, while keeping Christo et Doctrinae (For Christ and Learning) as its motto. As of Fall 2021, it enrolls approximately 2,300 undergraduate students and 150 graduate students on its 750-acre (304 ha) campus.From the Wikipedia article “Furman University”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Furman University Japanese 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 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 79° in summer but only 32° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:34 AM | 90° E | 7:42 PM | 271° W | 55° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:17 AM | 60° ENE | 8:47 PM | 300° WNW | 79° | 14h 30m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:18 AM | 89° E | 7:28 PM | 271° W | 55° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:34 AM | 119° ESE | 5:23 PM | 242° WSW | 32° | 9h 48m |
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 | 7:10 AM | 7:38 AM | 8:16 AM | 5:04 PM | 5:42 PM | 6:09 PM | 10h 04m |
| February | 6:51 AM | 7:17 AM | 7:52 AM | 5:38 PM | 6:13 PM | 6:39 PM | 10h 56m |
| March | 7:16 AM | 7:41 AM | 8:15 AM | 7:04 PM | 7:38 PM | 8:03 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:32 AM | 6:59 AM | 7:32 AM | 7:28 PM | 8:02 PM | 8:28 PM | 13h 04m |
| May | 5:59 AM | 6:27 AM | 7:03 AM | 7:51 PM | 8:27 PM | 8:55 PM | 13h 59m |
| June | 5:47 AM | 6:16 AM | 6:54 AM | 8:08 PM | 8:46 PM | 9:15 PM | 14h 29m |
| July | 5:59 AM | 6:28 AM | 7:05 AM | 8:08 PM | 8:45 PM | 9:14 PM | 14h 17m |
| August | 6:24 AM | 6:51 AM | 7:25 AM | 7:45 PM | 8:20 PM | 8:46 PM | 13h 29m |
| September | 6:48 AM | 7:13 AM | 7:47 AM | 7:05 PM | 7:38 PM | 8:04 PM | 12h 25m |
| October | 7:11 AM | 7:36 AM | 8:10 AM | 6:22 PM | 6:56 PM | 7:22 PM | 11h 20m |
| November | 6:38 AM | 7:05 AM | 7:42 AM | 4:49 PM | 5:26 PM | 5:52 PM | 10h 21m |
| December | 7:03 AM | 7:31 AM | 8:10 AM | 4:42 PM | 5:20 PM | 5:49 PM | 9h 49m |
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 Furman University Japanese Garden, 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 5 (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 | — | -1° | — |
| February | 5:08 AM – 5:48 AM | 0.7 | 15° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:22 AM – 6:12 AM | 1.8 | 23° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:22 AM – 5:22 AM | 3.0 | 26° | SE → S |
| May | 12:26 AM – 4:46 AM | 4.3 | 26° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:33 PM – 4:23 AM | 5.8 | 26° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:28 PM – 2:58 AM | 4.5 | 26° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:53 PM – 1:03 AM | 3.2 | 26° | S → SW |
| September | 9:04 PM – 10:54 PM | 1.8 | 23° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:21 PM – 9:01 PM | 0.7 | 16° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 2° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -18° | — |
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: 5 Bortle 5 — Suburban sky. The Milky Way is weak near the horizon and washed out overhead; long exposures pick up a sky glow. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 19.56 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 43% average cloud cover) and July as the cloudiest (57%). 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 | 74 | 77 | 83 | 89 | 98 | 109 | 108 | 107 | 101 | 101 | 84 | 77 |
| Low °F | 11 | 11 | 16 | 24 | 39 | 52 | 59 | 56 | 44 | 29 | 21 | 17 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.8 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 3.7 | 3.9 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 3.5 | 3.8 | 5.0 |
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 Furman University Japanese Garden, closest first.
State Park
Waterfall
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Covered BridgeFAQ
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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.