Brookside Gardens | Montgomery County

Brookside Gardens is a premier 50-acre public botanical garden located within Wheaton Regional Park in Wheaton, Maryland. Established in 1969, it serves as Montgomery County’s flagship public garden, dedicated to showcasing a diverse variety of plants and garden styles while providing visitors with a tranquil environment for education, relaxation, and inspiration. Managed by Montgomery Parks, Brookside Gardens combines horticultural excellence with community programming and conservation efforts.

Garden Layout and Themed Areas

The gardens are thoughtfully divided into several distinct sections, each designed to highlight different types of plants, landscaping techniques, and gardening themes. These varied gardens collectively provide year-round visual interest and educational opportunities:

Aquatic Garden: This serene area features two large ponds surrounded by water-loving plants such as water lilies, lotus, and pickerelweed. A gazebo near the pond provides a peaceful spot for reflection and photography. The ponds are home to fish and attract various birds and amphibians, enhancing the garden’s ecosystem.

Azalea Garden: One of the garden’s most colorful and celebrated areas, it showcases over 300 varieties of azaleas blooming in vibrant spring colors. The garden also includes rhododendrons and witchhazels, thriving under the shade of mature trees, creating a lush understory that supports pollinators.

Butterfly Garden: A seasonal garden designed to attract and support butterflies through a diverse planting of nectar-rich flowers, including milkweed, coneflowers, and asters. The garden serves both an ecological function-supporting butterfly populations-and an educational one, teaching visitors about pollinators’ roles.

Children’s Garden: An interactive space designed to engage young visitors with plants and gardening. It offers hands-on learning opportunities, encouraging children to explore nature, learn about plant life cycles, and develop an appreciation for the environment.

Rose Garden: This area displays a wide variety of roses, including hybrid teas, climbers, and shrub roses. The garden is meticulously maintained, showcasing seasonal blooms and fragrant blossoms, attracting visitors during the peak blooming months.

Japanese Style Garden: Designed with traditional Japanese landscaping elements, this garden features a koi pond, stone lanterns, carefully pruned trees, and a teahouse. It emphasizes harmony, simplicity, and the contemplative aspects of nature, providing a quiet retreat within the larger garden.

Perennial Garden: Featuring plants that return year after year, this garden offers seasonal blooms and a palette of colors and textures. It includes asters, daylilies, hostas, and ornamental grasses, designed for sustained visual interest throughout the growing season.

Fragrance Garden: Focused on aromatic plants, this garden offers an olfactory experience with herbs, flowering shrubs, and scented perennials such as lavender, rosemary, and lilac, stimulating visitors’ senses.

Woodland Walk: A shaded path meandering through native trees and understory plants, this walk showcases the natural beauty of Maryland’s woodland flora. It provides habitat for birds and small wildlife, promoting biodiversity.

Rain Garden: This sustainable garden demonstrates environmentally friendly stormwater management techniques. It features native plants adapted to wet conditions, filtering runoff and helping reduce erosion and pollution.

Additional garden areas include the Yew Garden, Maple Terrace, and Idea Garden, each with specialized plant collections or thematic landscaping designed to inspire gardeners and visitors alike.

Conservatories and Indoor Displays

Brookside Gardens includes two conservatories that allow for year-round enjoyment of tropical and subtropical plants. The conservatories host seasonal displays featuring orchids, poinsettias, and other exotic plants, as well as educational exhibits about plant biology, ecology, and conservation.

Visitor Facilities and Amenities

The gardens feature a Visitor Center that provides information, educational resources, and restrooms. The center includes a gift shop offering gardening books, plants, and souvenirs. Well-maintained walking paths throughout the gardens make it accessible to a wide range of visitors, although some terrain may be uneven due to natural landscaping.

Admission to Brookside Gardens and the outdoor spaces is free, making it an inclusive destination for families, horticulture enthusiasts, educators, and casual visitors.

Educational Programs and Community Engagement

Brookside Gardens is committed to public education and community involvement through a wide array of programs:

Adult Education: Workshops, lectures, and classes on topics such as sustainable gardening, floral design, native plants, and garden maintenance are regularly offered. These programs provide in-depth knowledge for gardening enthusiasts and professionals.

Children’s Programs: Hands-on activities, camps, and guided tours encourage children to engage with plants and nature, fostering early environmental awareness.

School Field Trips: Tailored educational experiences for K–12 students introduce children to botany, ecology, and conservation principles aligned with state curricula.

Volunteer Opportunities: Community members can participate in garden maintenance, special events, and educational programming, contributing to the gardens’ care and vibrancy.

Special Events and Seasonal Highlights

Brookside Gardens hosts a variety of events throughout the year that enhance visitor engagement and celebrate horticultural themes:

The Butterfly Experience: A seasonal exhibit that features live butterflies in a controlled environment, providing educational programs about butterfly life cycles, species diversity, and conservation.

Garden of Lights: During the winter holiday season, the gardens are transformed into a dazzling display of millions of lights, attracting visitors for festive nighttime strolls, family activities, and special performances.

Shakespeare in the Garden: Outdoor theatrical performances of Shakespearean plays take place in the gardens, combining culture and nature in an immersive setting.

Wellness Programs: Tai Chi, yoga, and mindfulness walks are held periodically, leveraging the garden’s peaceful atmosphere to promote physical and mental well-being.

Photography and Event Rentals

The picturesque settings of Brookside Gardens make it a popular venue for photography sessions, including weddings, family portraits, and special occasions. Permits are required for professional or special occasion photography to ensure garden preservation and visitor enjoyment. The gardens also offer venue rentals for events such as weddings, corporate gatherings, and private parties, providing a natural and elegant backdrop.

Location and Access

Address: 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, Maryland 20902.

Hours: Outdoor gardens are open daily from sunrise to sunset. The Visitor Center operates from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and the conservatories are open from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Admission: Free for all visitors.

Accessibility: The garden paths accommodate visitors of various mobility levels, though some areas have natural terrain.

Summary

Brookside Gardens stands as a vibrant, educational, and visually stunning botanical destination in Montgomery County, Maryland. Its wide variety of themed gardens and plant collections provide beauty throughout the seasons, while its commitment to education, conservation, and community involvement make it a valuable resource for visitors of all ages. Whether exploring colorful azaleas, enjoying the tranquility of the Japanese Garden, learning about pollinators in the Butterfly Garden, or attending seasonal events, visitors to Brookside Gardens experience a rich blend of horticultural artistry, environmental stewardship, and cultural enrichment.