Located in City of Harrisonburg, Virginia, Edith J. Carrier Arboretum is a botanical garden. The nearest town is Harrisonburg, about 2.3 km (1.4 mi) away (Edith J. Carrier Arboretum lies SSE of town).
James Madison University (JMU, Madison, or James Madison) is a public research university in Harrisonburg, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1908, the institution was renamed in 1938 in honor of the fourth president of the United States, James Madison. It has since expanded from its origins as a normal school and teacher's college into a comprehensive university. It is situated in the Shenandoah Valley, just west of Massanutten Mountain.From the Wikipedia article “James Madison University”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Edith J. Carrier Arboretum the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 301° (WNW) in June to 240° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 75° in summer but only 28° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:20 AM | 90° E | 7:28 PM | 271° W | 51° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:53 AM | 59° ENE | 8:43 PM | 301° WNW | 75° | 14h 51m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:04 AM | 89° E | 7:14 PM | 271° W | 52° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:30 AM | 120° ESE | 4:59 PM | 240° WSW | 28° | 9h 29m |
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 | 7:03 AM | 7:32 AM | 8:12 AM | 4:39 PM | 5:19 PM | 5:48 PM | 9h 47m |
| February | 6:40 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:44 AM | 5:17 PM | 5:54 PM | 6:21 PM | 10h 47m |
| March | 7:01 AM | 7:28 AM | 8:03 AM | 6:48 PM | 7:23 PM | 7:49 PM | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:13 AM | 6:40 AM | 7:16 AM | 7:16 PM | 7:52 PM | 8:19 PM | 13h 12m |
| May | 5:35 AM | 6:05 AM | 6:43 AM | 7:43 PM | 8:20 PM | 8:50 PM | 14h 15m |
| June | 5:20 AM | 5:52 AM | 6:31 AM | 8:02 PM | 8:42 PM | 9:13 PM | 14h 50m |
| July | 5:33 AM | 6:04 AM | 6:43 AM | 8:01 PM | 8:40 PM | 9:11 PM | 14h 35m |
| August | 6:02 AM | 6:31 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:35 PM | 8:11 PM | 8:39 PM | 13h 40m |
| September | 6:31 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:33 AM | 6:50 PM | 7:25 PM | 7:52 PM | 12h 28m |
| October | 6:58 AM | 7:25 AM | 8:01 AM | 6:03 PM | 6:39 PM | 7:05 PM | 11h 14m |
| November | 6:30 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:37 AM | 4:25 PM | 5:04 PM | 5:32 PM | 10h 06m |
| December | 6:57 AM | 7:26 AM | 8:08 AM | 4:15 PM | 4:57 PM | 5:26 PM | 9h 30m |
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 Edith J. Carrier Arboretum, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 23° 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 | 5:12 AM – 5:32 AM | 0.3 | 12° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:31 AM – 5:51 AM | 1.3 | 19° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:26 AM – 4:56 AM | 2.5 | 22° | SE → S |
| May | 12:27 AM – 4:17 AM | 3.8 | 23° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:39 PM – 3:49 AM | 5.2 | 23° | SE → SSW |
| July | 10:32 PM – 2:22 AM | 3.8 | 23° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:50 PM – 12:20 AM | 2.5 | 22° | S → SW |
| September | 8:55 PM – 10:25 PM | 1.5 | 19° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:06 PM – 8:26 PM | 0.3 | 13° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 0° | — |
| 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 ≈ 18.66 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 September as the clearest month (about 52% average cloud cover) and May as the cloudiest (64%). 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 | 72 | 73 | 78 | 87 | 93 | 96 | 101 | 98 | 97 | 95 | 80 | 77 |
| Low °F | -3 | -3 | -6 | 22 | 27 | 39 | 50 | 49 | 36 | 23 | 13 | 6 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.3 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 3.7 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 3.9 | 3.6 | 4.2 | 3.4 | 3.0 | 3.0 |
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
- 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.
- Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.
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 Edith J. Carrier Arboretum, closest first.
Botanical Garden
National Forest
Cave
Scenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointScenic Viewpoint
CaveScenic ViewpointCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Edith J. Carrier 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.