Beautiful grounds and spacious parking. Will definitely return to see the changing seasons.

Bueatious and great for my elderly mother as well. Tons to see and do there. They do thing all year round but the best is spring and summer. read more

It's nearby my house so I frequented couple of times. Really nice and beautiful place. I also had my wedding pictures there!

We went for a quick walk and it's a beautiful garden!! Love it so much! It's so green!! read more

Brookside Gardens - Taking a stroll - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Wheaton, Maryland

Butterfly heaven! I purchased a groupon for $8 which included admission for 2 people. I took my 10yo cousin with me to visit Wings of Fancy and we both had a great time. The parking lot is small, so we had to wait for someone to exit to get a decent parking spot, but we were able to see the butterflies without a wait. My cousin was literally picking up butterflies and giggling as she watched them fly away from her palm and was Leo sharing butterflies with other small girls in the room. At the time we were unaware that visitors aren't allowed to touch the butterflies, but once we found out, we definitely abided by the rules. Regardless, we both had a nice time and the staff were knowledgeable about the different types of butterflies. Definitely worth a visit! read more

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It is not a huge garden but well maintained, plenty of things to see be it the gardens, buildings and wildlife. Come early as parking is limited and when we went it was also free. Come spend an afternoon walking the grounds, some slight hills but generally very easy going. You walk at your pace, see what you want to see as you can send at least 3 hours slowly visiting the various places. If you are a photographer like myself, bring your tripod as they don't have any issues and take some macro shots of the many flowers throughout the grounds and green house. As mentioned there are buildings, bridges and wildlife to keep your photo interest if you are a beginner or slightly more advanced. There is even some water so composing photos with the bridge and fuildings not to mention the blue sky will reward you with some memories. You can even bring some food if you want to kind of have a picnic on the grass. If you want to enjoy nature on a budget, this is worth a visit. read more

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I stumbled upon this place and thoroughly enjoyed the scenery. Beautiful trees/shrubs/plants, nice open, paved trail in a peaceful setting.

Nice public park design for all the spring flowers. A wonderful Garden for young and old.

Nice park with beautiful gardens . You may not be able to access on Saturdays as they close off large areas for weddings to make money . No pers read more

I love taking a walk around this place. It's large enough to social distance and it's quiet enough that you forget that you're in a city with a lot of traffic. If you go in the summer, bring bug spray! read more

Beautiful setting, tucked away in a quiet neighborhood! The flowers, paths, and water features are really wonderful. Also love the recent art Installations.This is a wonderful place to de stress! read more

Brookside gardens is one of my favorite spot since we moved to D.C. Area 3 years ago. It's just a nice place to walk around with your family, see all kinds of plants, enjoy a nice day, bring some food, bike around and go to the butterfly pavilion once a year. We always stop by this place when we go to Wheaton area. Usually we go here in the late morning, walk around, take some nice pictures and then continue to drive around Wheaton area for some food. It's definitely a perfect place for a family with a toddle or small children who want to make your children tired. And if you have an infant with you? Bring your baby stroller. It's a perfect place for you to get some light exercise read more

Beautiful in any season. No dogs allowed. I did my wedding photo shoot here for a small fee, and scheduled in advance.

Beautiful place to visit on a nice weather day. Starts out looking like a park with unique trees, plants and area with gazebos and ponds. The pond we saw had ton of baby turtles and catfish...so cute! And at the end of the trail, you see the beautiful colored flowers. Most of them were tulips I believe and some of them smell so nice. Best part is that all this is FREE! I'll definitely visit again and hopefully they'll have different flowers for me to enjoy :) read more

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Beautiful Brookside Garden. Well-kept and I just kept taking pictures after pictures and couldn't stop beautiful place

Spent the morning walking around Brookside Gardens. It's such a hidden gem! An escape from all the hustle just minutes from it. You wouldn't know that you're in Wheaton when walking around. It's so serene and peaceful. When we went it was a bit chilly so not that many people were there which made it that much nicer!! On a spring day it's even prettier because all the trees and flowers are alive and in bloom!! It's a fantastic place for children! They have activities all around the gardens to keep them entertained! We also got to see a lot of wildlife which was pretty cool! I also recommend goIng to the nature center! It's a little hidden but up a big hill. It was also a pleasant surprise! Inside the center there's more activities and clean bathrooms! All the people who work / volunteer there are very niCe! Parking is super easy!!! There's no reason not to visit!! read more

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Gorgeous and peaceful place to take a walk with your family. I had my first date here with my now spouse back in high school and it continues to be our favorite place. read more

Beautiful park, always such a sweet peaceful place to get away from city stress. It's an oasis in the chaos

Love these gardens! It was actually much larger than I thought, almost forgot we were in silver spring. There are not only labeled greenery and flowers, but also a nice small lake and large paths. Just be aware that no pets are allowed. We brought our pup here only to realize that here were no pets allowed. read more

Brookside Gardens - Scenery at the gardens - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Wheaton, Maryland

I would like to start by saying this place is BEAUTIFUL. My complaints come from the way it's run. I scheduled my engagement photo shoot in MARCH, I was told I would be getting a response back with instructions on how to get my permit by the end of March. I did not I'm reaching out to the event staff with no reply for a week, when I finally get a reply, there's no apology for a delayed response or anything. I finally hear back and i get instructions on how to get my permit after i pay $100 for it. I pay the money because it's a beautiful location & I'm doing the right thing. Day of we arrive to the visitor's center to pick up the permit as we were instructed and the woman who is working there is, screaming, i mean SCREAMING at people that they're closed and they can't come in. I was surprised because I needed to pick up my permit. As she was letting a person out and yelling at a mother to tell her that her child couldn't come in to use the restroom, i asked what about my permit. She goes "you don't need one the email on your phone is fine!" And slams the door shut. I get it you may have worked a long day, BUT still be kind to people. I work in customer service & even if a customer is being rude to me at the end of the day, I'm STILL pleasant. As we go to meet our photographer we notice crazy set ups for photographers that weren't allowed in per the agreement i PAID for. It become extremely clear that I didn't need to pay, I could've just shown up & taken my photos & but the $100 that goes to the garden to my actual wedding. I won't be coming back. Pro tip: if you want a photo shoot there, don't pay for it. They don't check if you have the permit & they're nasty to you when you arrive read more

Who knew my first trip to Brookside would result in an engagement? :D The boyfriend, now fiance, decided to bring me here on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. After walking around the greenhouse, lovely rose gardens, and romantic flower trellises, we escaped the people and hot sun to find a secluded path where he got down on one knee... :) Because it was so late in the afternoon, we didn't get to go to the butterfly exhibit. There was a wedding taking place so we were unable to see some of the other scenic spots nearby. And because neither of us had ever been there before, there's lots of other gardens in the park that I know we missed. Now that Brookside Gardens holds a special place in our hearts, I know we will return to explore much more! read more

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Amazing flowers and landscaping. Have something blooming just about all year. Great way to spend the day outside. Lots of trails and connects to a big park with a playground. The butterfly exhibit when open is amazing. One thing to be aware of is both visitor centers close at 5 pm though the gardens are open until 7:30pm. For those with kids and such there are no bathrooms. Please fix this! read more

Beautiful but needs much better signage. Very easy to go in the wrong direction if you're looking for a specific area of the garden

Ahhh nature, gardens, and free admission. Beautiful park with lots of trails. We were here for an impromptu (personal) photoshoot and the scenery was perfect for that. If you're taking professional photos though, you'll unfortunately need a permit. -- PHOTOS: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/cAfUmNEJ8iGqTWiqfY-VqQ?select=4XVM9KUVvWN8-Urvf6t3IQ#Lny41MCNrznskY2PMUZUGg http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/cAfUmNEJ8iGqTWiqfY-VqQ?select=4XVM9KUVvWN8-Urvf6t3IQ#4XVM9KUVvWN8-Urvf6t3IQ read more

Brookside Gardens - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Wheaton, Maryland

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Another nice hike to Montgomery County for an adventure! What was the occasion? Why, it was Pokemon Go!!! All of the lures scattered through this botanical garden were going to have lures up at all of the pokestops for three hours. As I started walking around, i was intrigued by how big the place was. I ran into staff all along my trek, and they were nothing but friendly. There was even a gazebo-like spot near the water where they were giving out free tea and cocoa to keep us warm. It was a cold cold day, but that isn't enough to stop the PoGo grind (sometimes). The event technically ended before the sun went down, but my friends and I decided to stay after anyway, and much to our surprise, the holiday lights came on! My only experience with lights in a park area has been Watkins Park, and you were required to drive through there. Here, you could walk everywhere. Another difference is that Watkins had many animated lights and they were actual shapes... here, it was just lights on branches of all colors. I guess it is a "botanical garden" for a reason right? All in all, I want to return here when it's warm. It's a beautiful place and it has a nice gift shop. See you in the summer! read more

Made my first visit to Brookside Gardens last weekend. Loved this place! I honestly could not believe that admission is free. I have been to smaller gardens, gardens with less to see, that charge admission. This place is a gem. The good: FREE admission. I do hobby photography, so I like to find places where I can either get free admission or buy a season pass. Large garden. Nicely kept. Plenty of parking. Clean restrooms. Plenty to see - indoor greenhouse with tropical plants, a garden with water lilies and fountains, a fragrance garden, a butterfly garden, rose garden, wooded garden, children's garden, a lake, a wildlife walking trail. The bad: I really have nothing bad to say about this garden. It is not as impressive as Longwood Gardens of course, but it's large and the admission is free. If you are nearby and want to go for a walk and see pretty flowers, give this place a visit. FYI: the gardens are in the midst of a huge construction project right now, so some areas are closed off. If you want to see something specific, check to make sure it isn't closed due to the construction. There is still plenty to see though even with the construction. Tip: I went to the garden the first week of August. The place was loaded with butterflies. If you like butterflies, August is the time to check out this garden. The rose garden was already past it's prime. If you like roses, it's suggested to visit the garden earlier in the season, like in June. read more

Brookside Gardens - Swallowtail butterfly seen at Brookside Gardens. - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Wheaton, Maryland

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As others have noted Brookside Gardens is an absolute gem, tucked away not far from Georgia Avenue in the Glenmont/Wheaton area. With so many other reviews on the gardens and grounds already, I'm concentrating my review on the gift shop. There are two visitors centers. The education center is the larger one and up a bit on the top of a hill. Inside the center are classrooms and special event areas. The gift shop is in the building and you enter at the door by the parking lot, The gift shop is on your right and before you enter there is a desk with hand sanitizer and a woman monitoring the number of patrons. In the foyer area by the actual shop there are educational books, plants grown on the premises, children's activities, scarves; and some seasonal items like mittens and hats for sale. Near the checkout counter there is a jewelry case with a beautiful display of necklaces, earring, brooches, etc. As with many items in the gift shop, quite a few are locally made. There are such a variety of items in a relatively small space. During the holidays I love do some gift shopping. This year I've purchased lovely crossover bags that I think will be nice for teenagers to carry their cell phones; cute nails files with pug and "daisy" (my dog's name!) themes; a "magic" wand with glitter for a pre-teen; stocking stuffers for pre-schoolers. and much more. I also always find some Christmas ornaments and decorations for me. They have some glass ornaments that light up. And I found an adorable winter cap that has flashing lights. The gift shop in the lower building is currently closed, but the upper shop is well stocked with a wonderful selection of items. read more

Beautiful park to go on date with significant other, family and friends. It's clean and there are always new flowers and plants in bloom. There are so many areas to the park that you never feel like it's crowded. read more

Brookside Gardens is amazing. As a budding photographer, I needed a peaceful place, with beautiful scenery to attempt to capture some moments for my portfolio. I got that and more. The walk is peaceful, the trees, ducks, rock statues are phenomenal, and to top it off, they have a butterfly exhibit that's simply breathtaking! I've since gone back three or four times, and highly recommend this beautiful place to any and everybody looking for exercise, relaxation, or to make magic with a camera. read more

Brookside at Christmas? Yes please! It's as if this place hasn't changed at all since I was eight years old. The Garden of Lights is a wonderful holiday nostalgia trip for the whole family. They've actually gotten pretty creative with some of the installations, and unlike drive-through light shows (like Seneca Creek) you can actually get up and close to everything. read more

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How quaint is Brookside Garden? Very! I came here this past weekend after lunch in Wheaton and boy was it crowded. The visitor parking lot was full although I managed to snatch a spot in the second one. Even so, there were a lot of people coming in behind me trying to secure parking. Apparently, Brookside Gardens is an award-winning public garden. Admission is free except when there are certain events, namely the Garden of Lights ($20 cash only for cars/vans Monday through Thursday; $25 Friday-Sunday). The Brookside Gardens have garden exhibits - aquatic garden, azalea garden, formal garden, outdoor butterly garden, rose garden, Japanese style garden, maple garden, perennial garden, trial garden, rain garden, and a yew garden. There are also two conservatories for year-round view. The maple terrace has raised beds of 'Suminagashi' Japanese maples. The bed encircles a sitting area of benches accented by colorful tropicals and annuals. The formal gardens are a series of various areas including the perennial garden, the yew garden, maple terrace, and the fragrance garden linked by a walkway with a view to the wedding gazebo. It looks like one of the ponds here is being refurbished as it was completely dry. I even spotted a lone frog hopping around this pond, trying to get out. The fragrance garden, one of my favorites, has perennials planted along the perimeter along with fragrant trees, shrubs, vines, and roses. The center beds feature seasonal flowers. There were so many multi-colored tulips in the fragrance gardens! Also, there were different plants and herbs, like catnip and mint and even celery. Another favorite of mine was the azalea garden. It's a semi-wooded area that features over 300 varieties of azaleas represented by 2,000 plants. So many different, vibrant colors of azaleas! The aquatic garden features two ponds with Japanese iris and other hydrophilic plants. The second pond has the Anderson pavilion overlooking the pond. Currently, the Anderson pavilion is under construction. I saw some turtles and small fish in the aquatic garden. I'm eager to come back and see the rose garden. This garden is typically popular from June through September when roses bloom. There are over 100 varieties of roses planted here along with ornamental grasses and perennials. The Gude garden lawn, Japanese tea house, reflection terrace, the labyrinth, and section of the Heart Smart Trail were all closed for renovations. A shame, because I was looking forward to walking through these especially the Japanese tea house. It just means I'll have to visit again when they reopen. I read that the Japanese tea house is located on an island surrounded by bamboo, conifers, and other ground covers. There are koi in the ponds too. It was a wonderful way to spend a lovely afternoon. Did I mention there are butterfly benches? Picturesque gardens and a tranquil atmosphere, what more could you want? read more

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I absolutely love Japanese gardens. I have travelled all over visiting them and I had no ideal this one existed right in my own back yard. What a hidden gem I would have never discovered if it wasn't for this event and this is why I love YELP so much! Thanks for the night tour with lanterns. Our guide was awesome and made sure we took in all of the garden's beauty! We learned quite a bit! I didn't get to get around and really enjoy because of the rain on the day I visited. Luckily this beauty is only about 30 minutes away from my house. I am definitely returning within the next few weeks. read more

Love to go there for meditation, view the beauty of the gardens especially during Spring and Fall despite my allergies, lol. Weekends get crowded, but worth a visit. read more

Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/karmanlee/sets/72157601548810538/ (from Butterfly Exhibit) http://www.flickr.com/photos/karmanlee/sets/72157601559722971/ (from Garden) They are having this amazing exhibit: "Wings of Fancy" - Live Butterfly Exhibit, from May 5 through September 16, 2007, and the fee is only $5. It's awesome that once you walk into the exhibit and thousands of butterflies just flying all around you, and landing right on your shoulder or your camera. http://www.mc-mncppc.org/parks/brookside/butterfly.shtm The overall garden is very well laid out, very relaxing and peaceful to take a walk around the whole thing. They have a rose garden and Japanese tea house. Great photo opportunities and a day trip when friends are visiting from out of town! It's free admission (except $5 for the butterfly exhibit). Plenty of parking. Helpful visitor office staff. You also can have weddings/events here, I saw a catering company setting up as I was leaving. read more

Brookside Gardens - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Wheaton, Maryland

Brookside Gardens is a hidden treasure located inside Wheaton Regional Park. The park itself is "Made possible through the Estate of Elizabeth A. Turner" (excerpt from visitor center plaque). When you arrive at the Brookside Gardens you are greeted by a closed iron gate. As your get closer to the gate it opens up (very slowly) so you can enter to park. They don't mind if you take pictures, however if you are taking professional pictures they ask that you get a permit prior to picture taking. I've been here several times and portions of the gardens were hosting events from corporate events to weddings. Brookside Gardens is also the home to the Sniper Memorial, which was erected to memorialize those that lost their lives during the time the DC snipers were inflicting havoc on the DMV. Like any garden there are a variety of flowers and plants for botanic enthusiasts as well as walking trails, tons of trees for shade, hills covered with grass, benches strategically placed throughout the park for you to sit down and take it all in as well as a pagoda. read more

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I have been coming to this garden for several years. It is not a great place to take yourself for a peaceful walk. There are several sections of the garden with different variations and themes. They also have several special events all year round. One of my favorites is the butterfly garden. It is not the largest garden I've ever been too but it is an amazing place to have nearby which doesn't take much effort to get to or find parking. There is always a nice staff there as well. It feels like a community effort. As a photographer this place is awesome. You can always find something to shoot. read more

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Currently, they are renovating so look out for the construction. Don't let the renovation deter you from experiencing this place. Being a lover of plants and flowers I couldn't have choose a better place to relax. This place is gorgeous! You could definitely have a wedding here. Be sure to check out the memorial for the sniper victims (that area is being renovated as well, so it doesn't look as pleasant). read more

Brookside Gardens - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Wheaton, Maryland

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Great spot for a walking, picture taking, and turtle gazing!

Lovely place to spend an afternoon to beat the winter blues! Lots of the flowers were not in bloom (and the tulips were hibernating until the spring!) BUT I still had a blast walking on the HeartSmart Trail, the labyrinth, and seeing all the geese swimming in the lake and chilling by the beautiful weeping cherry trees! Bring your camera (pretty sure I saw people taking wedding/engagement photos when I went!) for some GORGEOUS backdrops, nature scenery, and pretty plant life! I cannot wait until the spring arrives and all the flowers are in bloom! Will definitely go back in all of the other seasons (: read more

Brookside Gardens - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Wheaton, Maryland

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I had no idea this was hiding in my backyard. Super peaceful and lovely. It's not too big, but a good enough walk if you walk the whole thing. There are two aquatic gardens, rose garden and something that is supposed to be a Japanese tea garden. Lots of gorgeous greenery and great flowers everywhere as well as exotic plants.They also have a butterfly exhibit that is featured during summer. No fees for the gardens, but there is an entry fee for the butterfly exhibit. Gorgeous, quiet, clean, peaceful with plenty of sitting areas. Only downfall is you can't bring drinks or food, because it would be lovely place for picnics! Also no bikes and pets. (While I get the no pets policy, a little bit of a bummer. It would be lovely to be able to bring your furry family member along for the visit!) Plenty of parking spaces and well worth the visit! read more

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