A WALK AROUND BROOKSIDE GARDENS, MARYLAND ON TUESDAY, MAY 4TH, 2021 - PART 1

This trip was taken before the recent gasoline crisis on the East Coast.  We were fortunate to get our car filled up, which was not too far from empty, after driving by a dozen gas stations.  Most of them were closed in our immediate area, and the one or two that were open had lines stretching a very long way.  Hubby drove into Manassas the next morning, and after passing several that were closed, on his way home he found one place, still in Manassas, where there was only one person ahead of him on each gas pump.  I do hope you had no problems if you had to get into work.  

After an hour-and-a-half mini road trip we reached Brookside Gardens.  We haven't been here in about four years and we were very happy to get back as it is a gorgeous garden.  This year we will try to visit some favorites during each season.  

There weren't many empty parking spaces left (there are other parking lots in other areas also) but the garden is large enough that you don't get that overcrowded feeling, a few people here and there.

This is a link to a Facebook page where you can see photos and information.  At Trip Advisor you can see even more photos and read what people have to say about it here.  

Brookside is an award-winning 50-acre public display garden as I read, and it is situated within Wheaton Regional Park. 

I have been to the Butterfly exhibit in years’ past and look forward to going again, hopefully next time we go.  (I always look forward to seeing the butterflies no matter where we are.)  You can visit an Aquatic Garden, Azalea Garden, Children's Garden, Rose Garden, Japanese-Style Garden, Trial Garden, Rain Garden and the Woodland Walk. 

Added note: I have just learned that the butterfly exhibit, Wings of Fancy, will not be opened this year because of health concerns due to Covid.  

The Formal Garden areas include a Perennial Garden, Yew Garden, the Maple Terrace and the Fragrance Garden.  It has two conservatories for year round enjoyment, and a wedding gazebo.

The garden is open daily and there is no admission charge.  All this information came from here where you will get up-to-date information if you would like to visit.  At the time of preparing this post, it said the Visitor Center is open from 10.00 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily.  The Gift Shop is open from 10.00 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday to Monday (closed on Tuesday).  The Conservatory is open from Thursday to Sunday via free-timed tickets only, with entry at 11.00 a.m. and 12.00 p.m.

I learned of its history at that site also.  The garden grounds were originally part of a landscaping and garden center on a small farm owned by the Stadler Nurseries.  

Brookside Gardens opened to the public on July 13th, 1969, with a conservatory and 25 acres 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 acres.  A donation from Elizabeth Turley made possible the construction of a Visitors Center which opened in June 1998, along with a classroom and meeting space.

There were several very nice sitting areas and we made use of a couple of them.  People walked around, smiled and said hello.  

We were all very happy to be out and about.

I will have a lot more to share from here when I can put a post together.  Thank you for looking at these garden photos, and I hope your day is a great one.