This is a nice nature area to take a walk in and see some interesting plants and the occasional animal. I saw a blue heron catch and eat a fish on my first trip there. There are some cool architectural aspects of the gardens as well. It's a little bit out of the way and there were no parking spaces when I went, but there may have been an event going on. read more

Brookside Gardens - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Wheaton, Maryland

5 stars + for beauty. I have been many times and it is always gorgeous! 5 stars + for kid-friendly. There is a kids garden with a boat, tractor made from logs and a kitchen. There is a lot of open green space for kids to play, rocks to jump off of and it is a short walk to Wheaton Regional Park's playground. There are a bunch of turtles and fish to watch and most everything is easily accessible with a stroller. 1 star for bathroom accessibility. If you are there after 5:00 (and yes, the gardens are open after 5) and you have to go to the bathroom... forget about it! Even when the facility is open for an event, the bathroom police will not let you in. Unfortunately, this one little thing is a big deal for me because I have young kids. I'm also planning a wedding and was seriously considering Brookside, but I won't consider them until this issue is fixed. If you are open, have bathroom facilities available. read more

One of my absolute favorite places to bring my camera. The Wings of Fancy Butterfly exhibit is one of the best butterfly on the east coast. read more

Brookside Gardens - Brookside Gardens May, 2011 - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Wheaton, Maryland

See all

I've lived in the same neighborhood for 40 years and raised our children to appreciate the trails, streams and mini lakes, the nature center, the sports fields and ice rinks of Wheaton Park. But for myself the joy of the area is the glory of Brookside Gardens, a beautiful 50 acre public garden set in Montgomery County which boasts aquatic areas, walking trails and a variety of ornamental plants and trees changing with the season. Today, as a break from lockdown, my daughter and I walked the garden. The azaleas were just blooming, the acres of tulips were at their peak, the daffodils and narcissi were just fading and many trees like the Redbud were still covered in glorious purple. Oh what a superb antidote to being stalked by a killer virus. read more

Was married here 18 years ago and came to visit and see all the changes being made. Always a joy to walk through, and you can't beat the price of admission. read more

Brookside Gardens - View from the Japanese Tea House - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Wheaton, Maryland

Beautiful place to connect with nature, walk and clear the mind of the daily routine. Beautiful flowers!

If you have some technical difficulties capturing photos of butterflies in nature, this is the place to be. They have an enclosed butterfly exhibit where you can take all the photos to make up for the mishaps! After snapping away, you can take a stroll in the garden to relax and be in one with nature. read more

See all

Brookside is, by far, my favorite outdoor space to go to in the area. There's a children's garden, conservatory, and Japanese teahouse. The staff are fantastic at maintaining the gardens because you can visit anytime during the year and there'll be something gorgeous to see. Best of all, it's free! The only time you have to pay is when they have a special event (ie, the butterfly garden in the summer and the night lights in the winter). There's also a ton of trails that can take you to nearby Brookside Nature Center, Wheaton regional park, a dog park, Wheaton miniature train, and the Ovid Hazen Wells Carousel. read more

See all

Brookside Gardens is great. The plants and foliage are beyond beautiful. Its the best place to visit, walk around, and take in the beauty.

Love this place. Pretty place to take a stroll. Winter they have a light display as well. Since they charge by the car you'll want a full car. No dogs allowed in the gardens though. read more

Been comin here since I was a wee child. The Splendor of watching a garden grow is special, and the butterfly garden is the best of anywhere I have been. Bogota, koi , memorial gardens, greenhouse, fields of contemplation. What's not to love? And right off the Bike trail? Nice. read more

We love the Flights of Fancy exhibit and go back every year. We can never tire of having butterflies land on us and glide past our ears. Its a great place for kids. I actually secretly fantasize about going alone and just have a zen day by myself. One of these days! :) read more

See all

Beautiful gardens - lovely anytime of year. I am glad that they are focusing plantings on more of our native plants. Everything is well marked. The Rainscaping class was a very good value - must set up PARK PASS to enroll. read more

We were looking for snapdragons, and found them within a few steps of the front door of the greenhouse. Lots of colorful tulips are in bloom today. read more

Brookside Gardens - Here is a sample.... - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Wheaton, Maryland

Went to the Gardens for a Winter Solstice Festival. As other reviews have stated they are renovating right now. While it is a small area it seems to be having a big impact on the butterfly garden and the events they can host. Most of the larger events are cancelled for 2015. Even going in winter and with the construction, the place is beautiful. It looks well tended and well designed. There are a number of separate gardens, a green house, visitors center, lake and natural wooded area. The Winter Solstice Festival took place primarily at the Visitors Center. Outside activities included: candle making, lucky greens craft, warm apple cider (was almost out by the time we got there), meditation walk, and a drum circle. Inside the visitors center a range of activities geared towards children: crafts demonstrating the different Solstice traditions, shadow puppets, cinnamon ornament making, and face painting. Nothing particularly amazing yet a nice inexpensive way to spend an afternoon. And I will be back in the spring and summer to see the gardens again. read more

My family and I actually get to enjoy this lovely botanical garden every so often. We are within walking distance. There is a beautiful green house, with exotic plants and flowers. Along with the extensive gardens filled with beautiful flowers, there is a Chinese themed pond with coy fish, turtles and geese surrounding the area. There are no bikes, or pets allowed though. I usually take my furry baby in the woodsy trails in the back, where dogs are allowed. We do a lot of running back there. The trails lead to a dog park as well. Great way to spend a sunny day, absolutely breathtaking. read more

See all

This place is worth going to. Bring a minivan and fill it with everyone you like. We saw it at night and lived every minute of it. There is a huge mini train room that our boys absolutely loved. read more

Beautiful garden and park. I came here while they were planting bulbs and seeds so, I didn't get to see a variety of flowers but, there's still plenty to see. The paved pathway is clean and there are plenty of places to sit. It's a great place for a walk and since they have a few pavilions and tables, a great place for a picnic. Overall, it's a great park/garden. read more

This is one of my absolute favorite places to go for a beautiful walk. And every season something is new and different. I also love that it connects to the rest of Wheaton regional park. And the best part it's FREE!!! Also a great place to bring visitors from out of town. read more

Brookside Gardens - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Wheaton, Maryland

See all

This is one of my favorite places to walk during the Summer and Fall. Compared to the US Botanic Garden and the US Aboretum Gardens, this place is much smaller -- but impressive and worth the visit. If you come in Summer, the flowers are out in full force around the more scenic parts of the gardens. They also have a few ponds and different areas to view the variety of plants and trees here. There are several trails to walk and they recently renovated and opened up the back area of the gardens so that you can walk freely between both areas. If you have kids, I highly recommend a stroller if you plan to visit for a while. They have a cute "school place" area for the kids and a play area in the back, but it is a lot of walking for the little ones. There is a butterfly exhibit housed next to the greenhouse where they have the tropical plants that is really cool, but you have to purchase tickets for it. My only complaint is that I wish they had more bathrooms spread around the grounds. read more

Brookside Gardens - The gardens. - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Wheaton, Maryland

I have used Brookside Gardens as a place to learn about plants I otherwise read about and get away for decades. It is so beautiful and well maintained. The staff also work with the community on education opportunities. We are so lucky to have it close by! The large size makes it easy to socially distance and to spend a long slow day. I do wish they would label and educate about plants that are invasive in this area more than they do. But they are responsive to input. It would also be great if they would allow bicycles to be parked near the education center or conservatory instead of just outside the grounds. If cars are allowed , why not bicycles? read more

This place is really beautiful and quite. Nice place to take a walk to admire the lovely flowers or just relax and read a book.

We went for the Earth Day festival and had a great time. The grounds are beautifully kept and the fragrance garden was bursting with tulips. read more

Lovely, well maintained gardens and a pleasant way to spend an hour or two. Lots of paths and not too crowded.

THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN: First of all a shout out to Lester - I loved your homage review the other day. I am going to try to do the same thing - with a slight twist - lunch or dinner plus drinks on me for the first person to get them all correct ( don't all rush in at once now). Please - this is a homage - I love you guys - love love love . Yelper #1: First the preamble. I enjoy Brookside gardens considerably, the offerings are many and varied and the park has an incredible value propostion, in fact I have developed the following value scale: Offering Price 5000 trees free 10,000 flowers and shrubs free pond / lake free labryinth free butterfly house free So all of the considerable facilities in the park can be enjoyed free of charge - and there is no limit. You can look at all 10,000 flowers and shrubs and they still will not charge you. This is by far the best value I have seen in a long time. I would also point out, and to make myself appear less of a fatty than I really am, that we did see some animals in the park and I was not tempted to eat them. Well, maybe once. Yelper # 2: We took the children to the butterfly house. We wanted to sit under the flintlock sky and decode the epigram of their dreams. An old crone guarded the entrance, like Cerebrus watching over Hades, or perhaps like the mamasan at a bordello I recently went to. The butterflies inside were multitudinous and variegated, they fluttered in the air not unlike the eyelashes of my friend O. I remembered her eyelashes and their butterfly kisses from our time on Lake Como.It was opulent to see they had the Ornithoptera Alexandrae, the rarest butterfly in the world, it lives in the rainforests of Papua New Guinea and it drinks only the nectar of the paraistolachiya family. As the children raced headlong through the butterfly house I thought about their hopes and dreams, would they remember this day, would I , would any of us. And what is O doing now? Whose strong forearms are those eyelashes caressing. As we were about to leave we saw the onatopov, the beautiful Siberian butterfly and I always give two stars for beautiful Russians. Yelper #3: the children had to go to the labryinth as if those children with their sugared water and their brittany spears fascinations and the imminent arrival of puberty upon them needed to be confused any further god how i pity them those boys and that first pimple that first pubic hair its coming any day now then they will truly know what confusion is and they will rush pell mell into the cold night of self realization and self awareness and gold help them as their father won't he'll be looking at the bottom of a pint of guinness and drinking whiskey like its water Yelper #4: Brookside Gardens elegance a park and pond a summer afternoon a blanket on the grass the gentle hum of birdsong the scent of youth soft breeze on my shoulder like a lover's kiss Yelper #5: Das Kewlest ! If you be in da Wheaton urrea and are seeking a pleasure filled afternoon this is your spot. I am not a nature gurrrl on the regular but I know fo sho a good time when I see hear and feel one and this is it. Yelper # 6: Man, last night was another big one, I had way too much to drink and as for the shisha don't even start me. I needed some air so I came here to escape the city. It's a beautiful park but who or what are all these short people, and what were they all doing here ? they're all about 2 foot or 3 foot tall and they are completely undisciplined, running , screaming, it was like a madhouse. I have never seen so many short people before, and funnily enough all several taller people - mainly trendy couples, or couples to be honest, that probably looked at lot better and dressed a lot better about 10 years ago, were chasing the short people, it was very confusing and I don't think I can go back. Anyway, a strapping Nubian boy had followed me into the park and pretended he was interested in butterflies just to talk to me, I liked him and he was wearing Ellie Tahari jeans which always remind me of the city center square in my home town so I gave him my number when he asked for it. Yelper # 7 So, I decided after all the flesh I had been feeding the boy recently it was time to get out of the city, away from the bars and into some countryside and some exercise. I like the layout of this park, its brisk and efficient and well organized and the staff are clearly working hard. I did notice that the pruning of the magnolia trees had been left to chance, I mean come on, you prune one magnolia tree properly you can prune the next one properly too. How hard is that? read more

An amazing place. Beautiful greenhouses and gardens. They have a wonderful Christmas light show and butterfly show. Wonderful trails and wildlife. Very nice gazebos.a train and merry go round! read more

I walk there almost every day, this place is the most beautiful and relaxing place that I know. My wife and I Love that place, if you need to stop and smell the flowers, this would be the place to do it. read more

Brookside Gardens is a beautiful oasis in Glenmont, Maryland. It is a wonderful 50-acre display garden with many distinct areas: formal garden, Japanese style garden, trial garden, herb garden, azalea garden, rose garden, children's garden and fragrance garden. There is a large conservatory for year-round enjoyment. Picnicking is prohibited along with food and drink. read more

This is one of my favorite parks in Montgomery County, and I have been going to Brookside since I was a child...I love the gardens, the Gardens of Light winter display, the conservatories, and the fact that you can walk over to the huge playground at Wheaton Regional (though that is closed for renovation--when is that going to reopen??? Looks like it will be awesome when done!). I recently took my daughter to the Wings of Fancy butterfly show, and that was truly a worthwhile experience. She loved it and even remembered some of the butterfly species from last year. Great place to take kids! read more

A glorious place to walk, whether fast or slow, uphill or level, around ponds and through rockeries... choose from different paths and rest on benches and rocks strewn around the way. Ample parking. Free admittance (at least when I went). There are some hiking paths accessible from the third parking lot. The second parking lot holds the greenhouse. The first or main entrance holds the welcome center, presentation rooms, restrooms and children's exploration area, as well as starting point to main gardens and paths. read more

Such a hidden gem in Maryland. Everyone should check out these beautiful gardens! A great place for a family field trip or a hangout day with your friends! My favorite spots within the garden are the tulips and butterflies all around. Best time to visit are Spring and Summer time. read more

Please stop renovating! Now that I got that off my chest... I love coming here with my boyfriend! Brookside Gardens happens to fall into our running route occasionally and it has always been beautiful, romantic, and pleasant. Whether you want to enjoy good scenery while running, going for a walk, or reading under a tree-- I would highly recommend checking Brookside out. You won't regret it. It does get a little busy on the weekends, so time your visit accordingly. read more

Beautifully kept garden. I enjoyed exploring and buying items from their unique gift shops. The butterfly exhibit is breathtaking and educational. The gardens are about 1 mile if you walk the trail. Great and relaxing way to spend a morning or afternoon. read more

Definitely a gem in the suburban parts of Montgomery County, especially in Wheaton/Silver Spring. It's great for a nice walk or jog, and just generally enjoying nature. I liked the Japanese gardens more than the formal gardens, although I guess that's part of my cultural upbringing. The formal gardens definitely reminded me of English/European gardens, and the Japanese gardens reminded me of home/Asia. I'm definitely coming back in the winter and the spring to see the changes over the seasons. Brookside Gardens is fairly popular - lots of weddings, lots of families, lots of joggers, and lots of photographers (both pro and amateur/casual). I also ventured into the Brookside Nature Center, which is not part of the Gardens but is part of Wheaton Regional Park. The Nature Center is small and cozy, and the staff was very friendly. However... it seems to be completely overshadowed by the awesomeness of the Gardens. read more

Came here for a stroll one night to walk off dinner at A&J's down the block and around the corner. It was just before sunset which made it all the better. The sky started to turn bright pink, reflecting off the many ponds that you'll pass while walking the trail. Don't worry, its cemented so you can wear those new Pumas or even comfy flip-flops like I did. You'll pass many different species of flowers and plants, gazebos, bridges, and beautiful views along the way. You'll pass brisk walkers, familes and kids (not too many so that its over whelming), and lovers holding hands, enjoying each other and the moment. It's a total getaway from everydays, makes you feel like you're somewhere else. Loved it! read more

As a Montgomery County taxpayer, I am glad that my taxes go to support something as great as the park system, including the lovely Brookside Gardens. Coming here is a wonderful way to spend a day when the weather is warm and sunny. My nephew loved the various water fountains, but was a bit too young to fully enjoy the cute kids' garden. read more

What a beautiful place! I would absolutely recommend a trip here. It's really a must. The butterfly garden is a must! That's what drew us there- and it lived up to our expectations and far surpassed them! Walking to he butterfly gardens we noticed some beautiful landscaping. The garden itself was magical- simply swarming with butterflies. Of all colors and sizes and patterns! There are helpful employees to answer any questions you may have about the butterflies. They are patient and strive to do their best to find you an answer. After we enjoyed our time in the butterfly wonderland (which is a to die for picture spot!), we got a chance to explore the rest of the grounds. It's simply amazing! It's covered in flowers and exquisite landscaping including gazebos and finishing. I could not ask for a more beautiful place to spend the afternoon. A favorite of mine was the scent garden- it was simply lovely. I thoroughly enjoyed he experience and hope I can bring my family back there! And while the butterfly gardens do charge a slight fee, the rest of the gardens are completely free! This is really a must. read more

See all

Gorgeous. Hard to believe this is a county park. Spring time is my favorite. There's nothing like recovering from winter and watching daffodils and tulips bloom! Beautiful trees, a kids garden, and usually a butterfly exhibit in late spring. An awesome place to bring little kids to so they can burn off some energy. Also a great place to go to if you want to see some nature after a long week of dealing with traffic. It costs NOTHING to get in the park and is guaranteed to raise your spirits. Well done Montgomery County-- Brookeside Gardens really is a treasure. read more

It was a nice lil chill spot. Beautifuly kept for sure and weather was nice.

this is actually a review for both the brookside gardens and (more importantly) the brookside nature center (which is right across the pedestrian bridge) the gardens are great for all kinds of flora and fauna spectating on pretty days, especially in the spring and fall. the greenhouse is great too on rainy, cold or inclement weather days. the butterfly show is a must see (i never knew that not all butterflies eat nectar, some live off fruit juice). the nature center is awesome for walk-in trips or for any of the many different classes, tours, and activities that you can sign up for a nominal fee through out the year. the center itself is great for kids to check out some of the local little wildlife (both alive and stuffed), play games, and partake in activities. read more