McCrory Gardens and South Dakota Arboretum — a botanical garden in Brookings County, South Dakota — is a popular subject for landscape photographers. It sits roughly 2.3 km (1.4 mi) E of Brookings.
McCrory Gardens and South Dakota State Arboretum 70 acres (28 ha) are botanical gardens and an arboretum located on the South Dakota State University campus in Brookings, South Dakota. McCrory Gardens is operated and maintained by South Dakota State University and named in honor of Professor S. A. McCrory, head of SDSU's horticulture department from 1947 until his death in 1964. McCrory Gardens has over 25 acres of formal display gardens and 45 acres of arboretum featuring hundreds of different flowers, trees, shrubs and grasses in harmonious settings to display, educate, and further the development of new varieties. The South Dakota State Arboretum features trees and shrubs that are adapted to South Dakota's climate. In addition new selections of trees and shrubs are trialed to test their adaptability to local growing conditions.From the Wikipedia article “McCrory Gardens and South Dakota Arboretum”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At McCrory Gardens and South Dakota Arboretum the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 55° (NE) at the June solstice and 123° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 305° (NW) in June to 237° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 69° in summer but only 22° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:31 AM | 90° E | 7:40 PM | 271° W | 46° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:44 AM | 55° NE | 9:15 PM | 305° NW | 69° | 15h 32m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:15 AM | 89° E | 7:26 PM | 271° W | 46° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 8:01 AM | 123° ESE | 4:51 PM | 237° WSW | 22° | 8h 51m |
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 | 7:28 AM | 8:00 AM | 8:46 AM | 4:28 PM | 5:14 PM | 5:46 PM | 9h 14m |
| February | 6:58 AM | 7:28 AM | 8:09 AM | 5:16 PM | 5:56 PM | 6:26 PM | 10h 29m |
| March | 7:11 AM | 7:40 AM | 8:19 AM | 6:55 PM | 7:33 PM | 8:02 PM | 11h 53m |
| April | 6:14 AM | 6:44 AM | 7:23 AM | 7:32 PM | 8:11 PM | 8:42 PM | 13h 27m |
| May | 5:27 AM | 6:01 AM | 6:43 AM | 8:06 PM | 8:48 PM | 9:21 PM | 14h 47m |
| June | 5:07 AM | 5:43 AM | 6:28 AM | 8:29 PM | 9:14 PM | 9:50 PM | 15h 30m |
| July | 5:22 AM | 5:58 AM | 6:41 AM | 8:26 PM | 9:10 PM | 9:45 PM | 15h 12m |
| August | 6:00 AM | 6:31 AM | 7:11 AM | 7:54 PM | 8:34 PM | 9:05 PM | 14h 03m |
| September | 6:38 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:45 AM | 7:01 PM | 7:40 PM | 8:09 PM | 12h 33m |
| October | 7:13 AM | 7:43 AM | 8:22 AM | 6:05 PM | 6:44 PM | 7:14 PM | 11h 02m |
| November | 6:52 AM | 7:24 AM | 8:08 AM | 4:18 PM | 5:01 PM | 5:33 PM | 9h 38m |
| December | 7:24 AM | 7:57 AM | 8:45 AM | 4:02 PM | 4:49 PM | 5:23 PM | 8h 53m |
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 McCrory Gardens and South Dakota Arboretum, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 3.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 17° 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 | — | -5° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 8° | — |
| March | 5:20 AM – 6:00 AM | 0.7 | 13° | SSE → SSE |
| April | 3:17 AM – 4:47 AM | 1.5 | 16° | SSE → S |
| May | 1:23 AM – 3:53 AM | 2.5 | 17° | SSE → S |
| June | 11:40 PM – 3:10 AM | 3.5 | 17° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 11:25 PM – 1:55 AM | 2.5 | 17° | S → SSW |
| August | 10:26 PM – 11:56 PM | 1.5 | 16° | S → SSW |
| September | 9:19 PM – 9:49 PM | 0.5 | 13° | SSW → SSW |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 8° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -3° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -20° | — |
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 ≈ 19.25 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 5.0+ to show low on the northern horizon here.
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show July as the clearest month (about 45% average cloud cover) and March as the cloudiest (68%). 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 | 50 | 66 | 80 | 89 | 94 | 100 | 105 | 101 | 97 | 85 | 73 | 54 |
| Low °F | -41 | -24 | -22 | 6 | 23 | 41 | 47 | 41 | 32 | 9 | -5 | -21 |
| Precip. (in) | 0.6 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 4.2 | 3.0 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 1.0 |
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
- 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.
- Seasonal exhibits (orchids, tulips, cherry blossoms) draw crowds — arrive at opening.
- 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.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of McCrory Gardens and South Dakota Arboretum, closest first.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph McCrory Gardens and South Dakota Arboretum?
What time is golden hour at McCrory Gardens and South Dakota Arboretum?
Where does the sun rise and set at McCrory Gardens and South Dakota Arboretum?
Can you see the Milky Way from McCrory Gardens and South Dakota Arboretum?
Do you need a permit to photograph at McCrory Gardens and South Dakota Arboretum?
How far is McCrory Gardens and South Dakota Arboretum from Brookings?
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.