Located in Davis County, Utah, Utah Botanical Center is a botanical garden. The nearest town is Kaysville, about 1.8 km (1.1 mi) away (Utah Botanical Center lies S of town).
The USU Botanical Center is a botanical garden and a Utah State University distance education site located in Kaysville near Salt Lake City, Utah. The center offers educational opportunities for children and adults, all backed by USU Extension. It is home to an arboretum arranged according to the irrigation needs of its more than 300 trees and shrubs, gardens and home landscapes that demonstrate wise water use and research aimed at conserving the region's rich array of plants.From the Wikipedia article “USU Botanical Center”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Utah Botanical Center the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 57° (ENE) at the June solstice and 121° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 303° (WNW) in June to 239° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 72° in summer but only 26° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:32 AM | 90° E | 7:40 PM | 271° W | 49° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:56 AM | 57° ENE | 9:04 PM | 303° WNW | 72° | 15h 08m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:16 AM | 89° E | 7:27 PM | 271° W | 49° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:50 AM | 121° ESE | 5:03 PM | 239° WSW | 26° | 9h 13m |
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 | 7:21 AM | 7:51 AM | 8:34 AM | 4:42 PM | 5:24 PM | 5:55 PM | 9h 33m |
| February | 6:55 AM | 7:23 AM | 8:02 AM | 5:24 PM | 6:03 PM | 6:31 PM | 10h 39m |
| March | 7:13 AM | 7:40 AM | 8:17 AM | 6:58 PM | 7:35 PM | 8:02 PM | 11h 54m |
| April | 6:21 AM | 6:49 AM | 7:26 AM | 7:31 PM | 8:08 PM | 8:36 PM | 13h 18m |
| May | 5:39 AM | 6:11 AM | 6:50 AM | 8:00 PM | 8:39 PM | 9:11 PM | 14h 28m |
| June | 5:22 AM | 5:56 AM | 6:37 AM | 8:21 PM | 9:02 PM | 9:36 PM | 15h 07m |
| July | 5:37 AM | 6:09 AM | 6:50 AM | 8:19 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:32 PM | 14h 50m |
| August | 6:09 AM | 6:38 AM | 7:16 AM | 7:50 PM | 8:28 PM | 8:57 PM | 13h 50m |
| September | 6:42 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:45 AM | 7:02 PM | 7:39 PM | 8:06 PM | 12h 30m |
| October | 7:12 AM | 7:40 AM | 8:17 AM | 6:11 PM | 6:49 PM | 7:16 PM | 11h 09m |
| November | 6:47 AM | 7:16 AM | 7:57 AM | 4:30 PM | 5:10 PM | 5:40 PM | 9h 54m |
| December | 7:15 AM | 7:47 AM | 8:30 AM | 4:17 PM | 5:01 PM | 5:32 PM | 9h 15m |
Local time (America/Denver), 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 Utah Botanical Center, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 20° 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 | — | -2° | — |
| February | 5:45 AM – 5:45 AM | 0.0 | 10° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:57 AM – 6:07 AM | 1.2 | 17° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:57 AM – 5:07 AM | 2.2 | 20° | SE → S |
| May | 12:53 AM – 4:13 AM | 3.3 | 20° | SE → S |
| June | 11:10 PM – 3:40 AM | 4.5 | 20° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 11:01 PM – 2:21 AM | 3.3 | 20° | S → SW |
| August | 10:12 PM – 12:22 AM | 2.2 | 20° | S → SW |
| September | 9:12 PM – 10:22 PM | 1.2 | 17° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:20 PM – 8:20 PM | 0.0 | 10° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -1° | — |
| 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 ≈ 18.57 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 7.5+ 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 34% average cloud cover) and December 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 | 53 | 53 | 69 | 75 | 86 | 92 | 97 | 93 | 89 | 80 | 65 | 50 |
| Low °F | -19 | -23 | -4 | 4 | 18 | 25 | 37 | 35 | 22 | 1 | -17 | -20 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.9 |
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.
- Backlit petals glow; position yourself so the sun is behind the flower.
- 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 Utah Botanical Center, closest first.
Waterfall
Scenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointScenic Viewpoint
CanyonScenic ViewpointScenic Viewpoint
Dark Sky Place
Hot SpringCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Bountiful Peak Campground12.2 km (7.6 mi) · reservable
- Mueller Park Group Picnic19.7 km (12.2 mi) · reservable
- Maples Campground24 km (15 mi)
- Anderson Cove (Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Ut)29 km (18 mi) · reservable
- Port Ramp Marina29 km (18 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Utah Botanical Center?
What time is golden hour at Utah Botanical Center?
Where does the sun rise and set at Utah Botanical Center?
Can you see the Milky Way from Utah Botanical Center?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Utah Botanical Center?
How far is Utah Botanical Center from Kaysville?
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.