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 Butterfly Experience at Brookside Gardens returns starting April 10, 2025! 

A dazzling display of live butterflies from North America, Costa Rica, Africa, and Asia await visitors at Brookside Gardens. Discover the fascinating biology of butterflies, the vital role they play in healthy ecosystems, and how to ensure these beautiful insects thrive in our own gardens. 

The Experience will be open:

• July-August: Monday-Friday, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm (last ticket sold at 12:20 pm); Weekends, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm (last ticket sold at 3:20 pm)

Tickets are timed entry and must be purchased online. Click here to learn more and to purchase your tickets online. As tickets are limited, advanced purchase is recommended to ensure availability. 

Butterfly Experience Spotlight

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?    Buy your tickets today and discover all 40 brilliant butterfly species from around the world at The Butterfly Experience. Starting Tuesday, July 1, The Butterfly Experience will close at 1:00 pm on weekdays during July and August. Weekend hours will remain 10:00 am - 4:00 pm.

Free Fall Concert Series Join us from 6:00 - 7:30 pm each Wednesday evening in September for a series of musical performances set in the beauty of the Gardens! Admission is free, and no registration is required. Bring your friends and family, and don’t forget your chairs, blankets, and picnics (allowed in the Gardens on concert evenings only). Concerts will be held on the lawn behind the Visitor Center. Food trucks will also be available for your dining pleasure. Alcohol is prohibited. Click here to learn more and for updates.  September 3 – Son Horizonte / Genre: Latin Pop September 10 – Patty Reese / Genre: 70’s & 80’s Rock Hits September 17 – The Sidleys / Genre: Indi Rock / Soul September 24 – The Olney Big Band / Genre: Traditional Big Band Jazz, Swing & Dance

What's In Bloom

• Black-eyed susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
• Button Bush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
• Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
• Great blue lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica)
• Hardy hibiscus  (Hibiscus moscheutos)
• New York iron weed (Vernonia noveboracensis)
• Nodding onion (Allium cernuum)
• Purple Joe-Pye weed (Eutrochium purpureum)
• Summer sweet (Clethra alnifolia)
• Wandflower (Guara lindheimeri 'Whirling Butterflies')

  JCS