Meet at the bottom of the stairs leading up to the Brookside Nature Center (1400 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD 20902)

Brookside Nature Center & Brookside Gardens staff

Celebrate National Pollinator Week as we wander through an open meadow of beautiful perennials swarming with pollinators. Learn about mid-Atlantic native plants you can plant to help support beneficial insects while adding beauty.

Imagine a world where plant adaptations give gardens special super-powers or unlocked hidden talents! Expand your knowledge of botany and horticulture while activating your creativity and artistic skills. Thomas Crawley, an expert horticulturist, and cartoon enthusiast, leads this exploration of the science and art behind plant adaptations in the garden as you illustrate your own cartoon creatures adapted to extreme environments. Beginner scientists and beginner cartoonists between the ages of 8-12 welcome.

Join us for an interactive story time followed by an outdoor exploration or activity for children ages 3-7. We will meet in the outdoor classroom area located in the Children’s Garden, weather permitting. Adults must accompany children. Meet in the Outdoor Classroom located in the Children’s Garden area.

Take a garden walk with one of our instructors and explore botany, nature, and all the outdoors has to offer. Curiosity, seasonal changes, and botanical variety will guide the content of the day and the route we take through the gardens. Meet in the Visitor Center at the start of class and dress for the weather.

As the summer winds down, monarchs, swallowtails, and other butterflies are busy in the gardens. Stop at the “hot spots” along the trail to identify different butterfly species, snap a few photos, and record observations in the nature journal provided. Meet in the Visitor Center at the start of class and dress for the weather.

NOTE: Address and parking logistics will be sent after registration.

Tour Guide: Rochelle Bartolomei, native plant program manager, Pope Farm

Enjoy this behind-the-scenes tour of the Montgomery Parks’ production facility that grows over 60,000 native plants annually. See how staff responsibly collect seed from over 200 native ecotype plants and then clean, prepare and store for future growing. Learn how these plants benefit important initiatives ranging from habitat restoration projects to local plant sales.

Meet at Visitor Center Entrance | Reúnase en la entrada del Centro de visitantes

* Tour given in English and Spanish. | Visita guiada en inglés y español.

Tour guide: Alonso Abugattas, Natural Resources Manager, Arlington County and Founder, Capital Naturalist

Discover the hidden flora and fauna of Brookside Gardens and the neighboring forest with award winning naturalist, storyteller, and environmental educator Alonso Abugattas. Learn more about the fascinating relationships between plants and wildlife as you discover the local ecosystems that can exist in your own backyard. This guided tour will help you see the natural world of Brookside Gardens in a whole new light!

Guía: Alonso Abugattas, gerente de Recursos Naturales, Condado de Arlington y fundador, Capital Naturalist

Descubra la flora y fauna ocultas de Brookside Gardens y el bosque vecino con el galardonado naturalista, narrador y educador ambiental Alonso Abugattas. Obtenga más información sobre las fascinantes relaciones entre las plantas y la vida silvestre mientras descubre los ecosistemas locales que pueden existir en su propio patio trasero. ¡Esta visita guiada le ayudará a ver el mundo natural de Brookside Gardens desde otra perspectiva!

NOTE: This is an in-person program, meeting in the Adult Classroom, with an optional garden tour after. We will be sampling authentic West African food from local restaurant Mansa Kunda!

Instructor: Thomas Crawley and Angelus Bullock, Brookside Gardens staff

Expand your gardening and cooking palette with unique vegetables from West Africa. We’ll explore traditional agricultural practices and the cultural history of each crop. Learn where to source the seeds and plants locally, as well as cultivation techniques and even a few recipes to liven up your cuisine. Class includes a garden tour where you can see plant specimens up close.

Instructor: Marilyn B. Spenadel, LCPC, ACS

This self-care workshop will blend meditative practices in nature with art therapy and group discussion to build holistic wellness. Explore mindfulness skills to create your heart-felt resiliency routine for handling stress and providing peace of mind and body. Learn nurturing techniques that help build internal resources for spiritual and emotional health.