Located in Fairfax County, Virginia, Meadowlark Botanical Gardens is a botanical garden. It lies in or next to Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, so park hours, fees and rules apply.
Meadowlark Botanical Gardens (95 acres) are botanical gardens and an event venue located at 9750 Meadowlark Gardens Court, in Vienna, Virginia. They are open daily except for major holidays and ice; an admission fee is charged. Garden admissions end when the Visitor Center closes. The Visitor Center is open from 10AM until 3:30PM from November through March and from April through October 10AM until 6:30PM. Meadowlark Botanical Gardens closes 30 minutes after the Visitor Center's posted closing. The property is protected and operated by the NOVA Parks agency of Northern Virginia.From the Wikipedia article “Meadowlark Botanical Gardens”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Meadowlark Botanical Gardens 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 302° (WNW) in June to 240° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 74° in summer but only 28° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:14 AM | 90° E | 7:21 PM | 271° W | 51° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:45 AM | 59° ENE | 8:39 PM | 302° WNW | 74° | 14h 54m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:57 AM | 89° E | 7:08 PM | 271° W | 51° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:25 AM | 120° ESE | 4:51 PM | 240° WSW | 28° | 9h 26m |
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 | 6:58 AM | 7:27 AM | 8:08 AM | 4:31 PM | 5:11 PM | 5:40 PM | 9h 44m |
| February | 6:34 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:39 AM | 5:10 PM | 5:47 PM | 6:14 PM | 10h 45m |
| March | 6:55 AM | 7:21 AM | 7:57 AM | 6:41 PM | 7:16 PM | 7:43 PM | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:06 AM | 6:33 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:10 PM | 7:46 PM | 8:14 PM | 13h 13m |
| May | 5:27 AM | 5:57 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:37 PM | 8:15 PM | 8:45 PM | 14h 18m |
| June | 5:12 AM | 5:44 AM | 6:24 AM | 7:57 PM | 8:37 PM | 9:09 PM | 14h 53m |
| July | 5:25 AM | 5:56 AM | 6:36 AM | 7:56 PM | 8:35 PM | 9:06 PM | 14h 38m |
| August | 5:55 AM | 6:23 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:06 PM | 8:34 PM | 13h 42m |
| September | 6:25 AM | 6:51 AM | 7:26 AM | 6:44 PM | 7:19 PM | 7:46 PM | 12h 28m |
| October | 6:52 AM | 7:19 AM | 7:55 AM | 5:56 PM | 6:32 PM | 6:59 PM | 11h 13m |
| November | 6:24 AM | 6:53 AM | 7:32 AM | 4:17 PM | 4:57 PM | 5:25 PM | 10h 04m |
| December | 6:52 AM | 7:21 AM | 8:03 AM | 4:07 PM | 4:49 PM | 5:19 PM | 9h 27m |
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 Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 22° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 8 (city 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 | — | -2° | — |
| February | 5:16 AM – 5:26 AM | 0.2 | 12° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:25 AM – 5:45 AM | 1.3 | 19° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:21 AM – 4:51 AM | 2.5 | 22° | SE → S |
| May | 12:23 AM – 4:03 AM | 3.7 | 22° | SE → S |
| June | 10:36 PM – 3:36 AM | 5.0 | 22° | SE → SSW |
| July | 10:29 PM – 2:19 AM | 3.8 | 22° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:45 PM – 12:15 AM | 2.5 | 22° | S → SW |
| September | 8:50 PM – 10:10 PM | 1.3 | 19° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:01 PM – 8:11 PM | 0.2 | 12° | 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: 8 Bortle 8 — City sky. Only bright constellations are visible; the sky glows orange or white. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 18.35 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 7.0+ 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 (61%). 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 | 76 | 81 | 95 | 93 | 100 | 106 | 105 | 99 | 98 | 80 | 76 |
| Low °F | 2 | -2 | -1 | 23 | 32 | 45 | 52 | 54 | 41 | 28 | 20 | 8 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.5 | 2.9 | 3.1 | 3.7 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.1 | 3.9 | 4.3 | 3.8 | 3.2 | 3.4 |
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.
- A macro lens or close-up filter opens a world of detail — try a shallow aperture against a soft background.
- 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.
Permits, drones & access
National Park Service rules. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones: Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, closest first.
Waterfall
Canyon
Rock Formation
Waterfall
Beach
Botanical Garden
Scenic Viewpoint
Beach
State ParkCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Marsden Tract Group Campsite7.2 km (4.5 mi) · reservable
- Carderock Recreation Area Pavilion8.0 km (5.0 mi) · reservable
- Swains Lock Hiker-Biker Campsite10.8 km (6.7 mi)
- Horsepen Branch Hiker-Biker Overnight (Hbo) Campsite17.8 km (11.1 mi)
- Rock Creek Park Group Picnic Areas (Dc)20 km (13 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Meadowlark Botanical Gardens?
What time is golden hour at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens?
Where does the sun rise and set at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens?
Can you see the Milky Way from Meadowlark Botanical Gardens?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens?
How far is Meadowlark Botanical Gardens from Wolf Trap?
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.