Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve is a botanical garden in Spartanburg County, South Carolina. The nearest town is Spartanburg, about 3.1 km (1.9 mi) away (Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve lies SW of town).
Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve is a 10-acre (40,000 m2) public garden located at 820 John B. White Sr. Blvd. in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Admission is free and the garden is open to the public during daylight hours.From the Wikipedia article “Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve 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) | 7:32 AM | 90° E | 7:40 PM | 271° W | 55° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:15 AM | 60° ENE | 8:46 PM | 300° WNW | 79° | 14h 30m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:17 AM | 89° E | 7:26 PM | 271° W | 55° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:33 AM | 119° ESE | 5:21 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 | 7:08 AM | 7:36 AM | 8:14 AM | 5:02 PM | 5:40 PM | 6:07 PM | 10h 04m |
| February | 6:49 AM | 7:15 AM | 7:50 AM | 5:36 PM | 6:11 PM | 6:37 PM | 10h 56m |
| March | 7:14 AM | 7:39 AM | 8:13 AM | 7:02 PM | 7:36 PM | 8:01 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:31 AM | 6:57 AM | 7:30 AM | 7:26 PM | 8:00 PM | 8:26 PM | 13h 04m |
| May | 5:57 AM | 6:25 AM | 7:01 AM | 7:49 PM | 8:25 PM | 8:53 PM | 13h 59m |
| June | 5:45 AM | 6:14 AM | 6:52 AM | 8:06 PM | 8:44 PM | 9:14 PM | 14h 29m |
| July | 5:57 AM | 6:26 AM | 7:03 AM | 8:06 PM | 8:43 PM | 9:12 PM | 14h 17m |
| August | 6:22 AM | 6:49 AM | 7:23 AM | 7:43 PM | 8:18 PM | 8:45 PM | 13h 29m |
| September | 6:46 AM | 7:12 AM | 7:45 AM | 7:03 PM | 7:36 PM | 8:02 PM | 12h 25m |
| October | 7:09 AM | 7:34 AM | 8:08 AM | 6:20 PM | 6:54 PM | 7:20 PM | 11h 20m |
| November | 6:36 AM | 7:03 AM | 7:40 AM | 4:47 PM | 5:24 PM | 5:51 PM | 10h 21m |
| December | 7:01 AM | 7:29 AM | 8:08 AM | 4:40 PM | 5:19 PM | 5:47 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 Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve, 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 | 5:06 AM – 5:46 AM | 0.7 | 15° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:20 AM – 6:10 AM | 1.8 | 23° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:20 AM – 5:20 AM | 3.0 | 26° | SE → S |
| May | 12:24 AM – 4:44 AM | 4.3 | 26° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:31 PM – 4:21 AM | 5.8 | 26° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:26 PM – 2:56 AM | 4.5 | 26° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:51 PM – 1:01 AM | 3.2 | 26° | S → SW |
| September | 9:02 PM – 10:52 PM | 1.8 | 23° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:19 PM – 8:59 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: 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 ≈ 18.85 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 44% average cloud cover) and July as the cloudiest (58%). 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 | 79 | 86 | 93 | 99 | 110 | 108 | 108 | 102 | 102 | 86 | 80 |
| Low °F | 9 | 12 | 13 | 24 | 40 | 50 | 58 | 54 | 45 | 30 | 20 | 17 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.1 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 3.2 | 3.7 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 3.7 | 3.0 | 3.2 | 4.2 |
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.
- 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 Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve, closest first.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve?
What time is golden hour at Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve?
Where does the sun rise and set at Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve?
Can you see the Milky Way from Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve?
How far is Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve from Spartanburg?
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.