Azaleas Blooming at Brighton Dam

A warm winter and early spring are bringing azalea lovers a treat. Visitors to the Brighton Dam Azalea Garden can celebrate spring through more than five acres and 20,000 azaleas that are beginning to bloom at least two weeks earlier than usual.

The garden, operated by the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, opened Saturday.

Admission to the Azalea Garden is free and open to the public daily from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., including Mother's Day, May 13. Elderly or disabled visitors can drive through the garden Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

After touring the garden, visitors can relax along the Triadelphia Reservoir picnic grounds, which has a play area for children. For more information, call Brighton Dam at 301-774-9124.

The garden is 2 Brighton Dam Road, Brookeville, Md.

The photos accompanying this article were taken by Patti Kinlock.