Brookside Gardens

Brookside Gardens is Montgomery County’s incomparable, award-winning 50-acre public display garden within Wheaton Regional Park. Included in the gardens are several distinct areas: Aquatic Garden, Azalea Garden, Butterfly Garden, Children’s Garden, Rose Garden, Japanese Style Garden, Trial Garden, Rain Garden, and the Woodland Walk. The Formal Gardens areas include a Perennial Garden, Yew Garden, the Maple Terrace, and Fragrance Garden. Brookside Gardens also features two conservatories for year-round enjoyment. Admission to the gardens is free.

Brookside Gardens’ vehicle entrances feature deer exclusion grates, which also preclude pedestrians from crossing. All pedestrians should enter the Gardens through the pedestrian entrances on Glenallan Avenue, on the left of the vehicle entrance, or the conservatory pedestrian entrance, to the right of the vehicle entrance. Crossing the deer exclusion grates on foot could result in injury.

The Gardens are open for your enjoyment, relaxation, and exercise from sunrise to sunset.

Visit the website:  Brookside Gardens

The Orange Dead Leaf butterfly (Kallima inachus) is native to broad swaths of dense forests throughout Asia.  Though often hunted by birds, this species is very rarely found, thanks to an evolutionary defensive tactic that employs camouflage. When its wings are closed, this butterfly has mottled brown tones and dark lines that bear a striking resemblance to the veins of a decaying leaf.  Yet when it spreads its wings, a dazzling display of vibrant shades of orange, black, and blue help this species attract a suitable mate. Could you tell from the image that it was a butterfly? 

The Butterflies are Back! Wednesday, April 1 – Monday, September 7 / Shifts: 10:00 am ­–  1:00 pm and 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Location: Brookside Gardens Conservatory (1500 Glenallan Avenue) Brookside Gardens is looking for volunteers to educate visitors about the ecological importance of butterflies and show how they can support these remarkable insects in their own backyards.  Apply today and we will schedule a phone interview with you to discuss more. You will be able to sign up for shifts after an initial interview. Minimum 10 shifts required.

Feeling anxious or disoriented by current events? Practicing mindfulness in nature invites us into a slower pace that restores our natural rhythm. It’s an opportunity to rejuvenate, learn and be inspired. At Brookside Gardens, there are a wide range of offerings that provide mental and emotional grounding through time spent in nature.   These offerings include 1–2 hour classes such as yoga, tai chi, Forest Bathing, and guided mindfulness walks, as well as half-day mindfulness retreats for deeper restoration. Those looking for a more immersive journey can join the Strolls for Well-Being 8-week mindful healing program . To learn more, please reference the Health & Wellness section in the online Cultivate Magazine.

Plants of interest at Brookside Gardens in February     Cornel dogwood (Cornus officinalis) Crocus (Crocus spp.) Japanese Flowering Apricot (Prunus mume) Lenten Rose (Helleborus x orientalis cvs.) Paperbush (Edgeworthia chrysantha) Snowdrop (Galanthus ssp.) Winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) Winter daphne (Daphne odora) Witch-hazel (Hamamelis spp.)