The Brookside Gardens are public gardens located within Wheaton Regional Park, at 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Silver Spring, Maryland. The gardens are open daily without charge. However, certain annual events there are held that may charge a fee. The gardens hosts a "Garden of Lights" exhibit that features a light display during the holiday season.

History

The garden grounds were originally part of a landscaping and garden center on a small farm owned by Stadler Nurseries. Brookside was the first botanical gardens in the State of Maryland. Brookside Gardens opened to the public on July 13, 1969, with a conservatory and 25 acre developed as gardens. The landscaping and conservatory were designed by Hans Hanses and Carl Schoening, respectively. More gardens have been added and refined to showcase local species over the current 54 acre. Hans remarked "the main idea for the garden was to supply the average homeowner with ideas for his own use. Everything you see here is not exotic, but something which grows well in the metropolitan area and which one can buy in any garden center.". A donation from Elizabeth Turner made possible the construction of a Visitors Center, opening in June 1998, with classroom and meeting space.

Features

Gallery