Cheers To 50 Years: Brookside Gardens To Celebrate Milestone

From Montgomery Parks: Montgomery Parks, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, will mark the golden anniversary of Brookside Gardens with a special celebration on Friday, July 12, 2019. The celebration is open to the public and will feature special guest speakers, light refreshments and a chance to tour the Gardens with an interactive story map.

Brookside Gardens opened July 13, 1969 - exactly one week before the moon landing
– at 25 acres – half its current size, with a staff of 11 and an estimated 35,000 visitors in its first year. Five decades later, the award-winning public display garden located in Wheaton Regional Park attracts more than 400,000 visitors per year to enjoy the intricately designed landscapes, permanent and seasonal displays, two conservatories and engaging programs and events, including the Wings of Fancy Live Butterfly and Caterpillar exhibit and the winter Garden of Lights display.

From serving as a beautiful backdrop for birthday parties, family photographs and weddings, to hosting unexpected moments such as first steps, first kisses, and proposals, to providing a serene respite for memorial services and private moments of reflection, Brookside Gardens has become an integral part of the community.

“Over the past fifty years, Brookside Gardens has grown alongside the Montgomery County community and we are proud that we can serve as a place that fulfills a variety of needs for our residents,” said Stephanie Oberle, Director, Brookside Gardens. “As we look forward to the next fifty years, I am excited by the possibilities of the future growth of Brookside Gardens both within our traditional services, but also in new directions like green jobs for youth, well-being for all, and nurturing connections to plants and to each other.”

A Look Back: The History of Brookside Gardens:

In 1965, The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission approved a portion of Wheaton Regional Park for an arboretum. Landscape architect Han Hanses developed the original design using many European concepts from his training in Germany and Switzerland.

When the gardens opened in 1969, they consisted of three formal gardens leading to a Wedding Gazebo, an Azalea Walk, plantings around the entrance, and the Conservatory.

“When we were developing Brookside Gardens, one of the focal points, was to have a Conservatory, so we could have flower shows. It’s been a place of interest and beauty, but also educationally very important. It’s a great place to introduce children to the beauty of the horticultural world,” said Carl Schoening, former Assistant Director, Montgomery Parks.

In 1971, First Lady, Pat Nixon, presented Brookside Gardens with a Beautification Award. Brookside Gardens was one of 15 projects selected for the national award presented on behalf of the American Association of Nurserymen.

Over the years, additional periods of development occurred. In 1972, the Gude Garden and Japanese Tea House, dedicated by Congressman Gilbert Gude to honor his father Adolph Gude, was completed. Then, in 1998, a generous donation by Elizabeth Turner, led to the creation of the Visitors Center, with new classrooms, auditorium and offices, expanding the capacity for classes, events and programming.

In 2002, Brookside Gardens’ master plan was adopted, paving the way for future renovations and improvements, including the 2016 renewal of the main entrance and the new state-of-the-art production greenhouse, supported by a generous donation from Friends of Brookside Gardens founding president Joan O’Rourke.

About Brookside Gardens

Brookside Gardens is a 50-acre, horticultural display garden located within Wheaton Regional Park. The Gardens feature intricately designed landscapes, permanent and seasonal display and two conservatories. Throughout the year, the Gardens welcomes more than 400,000 visitors at engaging programs and events for children and adults, including the summer live butterfly exhibit and winter light display. Brookside Gardens is open year-round, sunrise to sunset and admission is free of charge. www.brooksidegardens.org

About Montgomery Parks

Montgomery Parks manages more than 36,000 acres of parkland, consisting of 422 parks. Montgomery Parks is a department of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), a bi-county agency established in 1927 to steward public land. M-NCPPC has been nationally recognized for its high-quality parks and recreation services and is regarded as a national model by other parks systems. www.MontgomeryParks.org

Accessibility

Montgomery Parks, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, encourages and supports the participation of individuals with disabilities. Please contact the Program Access Office at 301-495-2581 (Voice/TTY), MD Relay 7-1-1 or 800-552-7724 or ProgramAccess@MontgomeryParks.org to request a disability modification.

Visit www.MontgomeryParks.org/access for more information.