brookside nature center

No matter what the season, there is always something new and wonderful to see. Of course spring and summer showcase the gorgeous glowers, especially the roses, but i love comi g jere in the winter, when everything else os gloomy. The conservatory is open year round and is a warm, cozy refuge in the cold months. At Christmas time they host a model railroad exhibit inside the conservatory that my 6 year old son loves and usually have an outdoor walk through Christmas ligbt show (light show has fee so bring cash, closed in 2014 due to renovations). In addition to the conservatory and outdoor gardens, Brookside is a part of the larger Wheaton Regional Park and is next to the small but fun Nature Center, the horse stables, and miles of walking trails.

I like everything about the place. Apart from being a botanical garden, provides a pleasant environment for all ages. Children have their own area, families can enjoy walking with their children, and anybody can forget there the multiple worries of the world. It is mainly kept by volunteers, who are constantly renewing the park. You can go in any season, and it is always a pleasure to be there.

I have been going to this lovely place for the past 25 years. I live in Virginia but don't mind the 40 minute drive to a well maintained and peaceful spot. It is tucked away in a residential neighborhood so there is no traffic noise to disturb the tranquility. There are lovely gardens, ponds, trails, and an indoor garden as well. And admission is free! The gift shop also has lovely items for sale, from hand made jewelry and crafts to gardening supplies and books all with nature themes. I am always tempted there! Currently there is some construction going on to upgrade the place and I look forward to its completion next summer. The gardens, visitor center, and shops are still open and worth a visit. Just follow the signs to the entrance.

The Nature Center is next to the Brookside Gardens and the Regional Park. It's a really pleasant place with a large nature exploration area for children. I'm sure that it's a great place to take your kids and teach them about nature.

The Center is nicely developed to put you back in touch with the natural surroundings both inside and outside of their buildings. The center itself has a number of displays of local wildlife with snakes and turtles taking center stage. The trails scattered throughout this section of the 500-acre Wheaton Regional Park are delightfully planned to provide a full view of trees, bushes and flowers that are spread throughout. Knowledgeable and welcoming staff.

The nature center - next door to but separate from Brookside Gardens - is a wonderful place. The building is open every day except Mondays; it has hands-on exhibits, displays, and some live animals. The ground are open every day from sunrise to sunset. There are terrific hiking trails, great birdwatching, and a fabulous outdoor Nature Exploration Area for the little ones. Educational programs and camps are excellent too!

One of the biggest challenges of living in the DMV (DC/MD/VA) region is finding a place to escape from people. After a tiring week of spending 2 hours a day in a Metro cattle car, it's nice to have a place to just go and get away from it all. Brookside Gardens has beautiful trails and is never crowded, even on the weekends. I'm conflicted - I really want to sing Brookside Garden's praises, but I'm also aware that so many positive reviews may draw crowds!

Friendly staff to answer any questions you or the kids may have. Very child oriented; learning classrooms, lots of animal displays, small facility with lots to offer inside and out. Check out the bee display, kinda neat! Restrooms available, happy learning!

This is a small, relatively old fashioned nature center that provides good small exhibits on the plants, animals, and ecosystems of Maryland and the Capitol District from reptiles and amphibians to mammals. Solidly helpful staff are there to answer questions. The center is located in a beautiful Maryland forested park. Many well marked public trails allow the visitor to explore and view nature on their own, exploring and looking for the plants and animals showcased in the Nature Center after you visit. Linked paths to Brookside Garden allow visitors to tour greenhouses, visit a Japanese pavilion with koi pond, see Canada geese, and explore a more humanly landscaped environment with extensive rose gardens, azalea hills, and bulb features throughout the year. There are clean and free public restrooms, free public parking, a nearby public riding stable, a free children's play area with good playground, and equipment, and a small gift shop nearby. A public golf course is not far away. The Brookside gardens are stellar with wonderful plantings that have something blossoming almost every possible month of the year. The walkways are well set up with spectacular views and good paving. There are several large ponds with wonderful structures to explore. This is a regional gathering place for families with children, for special events such as weddings, and for folks just wanting to walk or run in a lovely and safe setting. The mix of educational offerings and beauty is charming and invigorating. The fact that this is all free and open to all is delightful. This park may be walked to within a mile of the Glenmont Subway stop on the Red Line. Please note that throughout the year many special events are held in the park celebrating different flowering plants, hosting a butterfly garden, and having maple syrup festivals, and other seasonal activities. This is a lovely feature of Montgomery County, Maryland.

The wait on line to get into the parking lot was super long, but truly worth it. gladly we had no little ones to get antsy- The show which uses over 1 million LEDs is something to behold. The artistry of the staff to create the flowers, creatures and effects is impeccable. This is not to be missed.

The facilities are very nice. Families are welcome to discover and the greenhouse always has a current attraction. I love to go for the trains in the winter and the roses in the summer and the butterfly exhibit when its in town. There are water features and a lake with rolling hills. Its always nice to see what's in bloom.

Wonderul sophisticated garden with long enough paths to get some exercise. Lovely all seasons of the year. When visited in late September were doing rennovation to the ponds so that end of gardens torn up, but lights were being installed for fall tours and looked fabulous.

Loved walking through gardens! I especially enjoyed the Roses with thier many varieties and colors! Lots of paths with plenty of benches along the way. Nice place to get caught up on some reading! Dissapointed we missed the Butterflies;closed for the season. The employees were putting up the holiday lights. Definitely have to come back in December for that!! Admission is free with a nice gift shop and friendly personal.

Gorgeous grounds with tons of trees, flowers and walking trails; a fantastic greenhouse display; and a lovely gift shop. We've never been that we weren't very happy we made that decision!

Been here many times in spring and fall. Flowers, shrubs and trees are usually well kept. Under some construction now in the lake portion. Also an indoor unit and butterfly garden. Worth a casual visit. Weddings are good here too.