"Wings of Fancy" Live Butterfly Exhibit
Conservatory Displays
Saturday, May 1 through Sunday, September 19, 2010
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily
Brookside Gardens South
Conservatory
1500 Glenallan Avenue
Wheaton,
MD 20902
"Butterfly Hotline": 301-962-1453
Wings of Fancy Video
(Click on the triangle to play the video.)
Admission
FEES: $6 adults; $4 ages 3-12
Groups of 15 or more: Must pre-register by calling 301-962-1467. School Group Tour Information
NOTE: Children 2 and under are admitted free,
however, we regret that we are not able to accommodate
strollers in the Butterfly Exhibit. The exhibit is wheelchair
accessible. Exhibit tickets and parking are available at the Visitors Center and Conservatories. Tickets may be purchased at either the Visitor Center or the Conservatory Gift Shop and must be purchased by 4 p.m. Tickets are good for re-entry to the exhibit throughout the day of purchase.
Exhibit
Help a caterpillar fly, plant your garden to provide! Why did the caterpillar cross the road? To get to its host plant!
This year the focus is on butterflies in your backyard, and the host plants that local caterpillars need in order to survive and thrive. Learn about the life cycle of these amazing creatures, and be surrounded by hundreds of North American, Costa Rican and Asian butterflies flying freely inside the Conservatory.
Beginning in early May and running daily through Mid- September 2009, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 p.m., Brookside Gardens South Conservatory will feature live butterflies. Come witness the butterfly life cycle as tiny eggs hatch into crawling, chewing caterpillars, which then encase themselves in jewel-like chrysalides and emerge as sipping, flying adult butterflies. Learn about the best annual and tropical plants, and hardy shrubs that are used as nectar sources to attract butterflies to your own garden.
Peak visitation hours are from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.. Exhibit tickets and parking are available at the Visitors Center and Conservatories. Admission is $6.00 for adults and $4.00 for ages 3 to 12. Children 2 and under are admitted free, however, we regret that we are not able to accommodate strollers in the Butterfly Exhibit. The exhibit is wheelchair accessible.
"Wings of Fancy" may close during extreme heat advisories or during emergencies. The telephone hotline and the web site are updated frequently in the event of a temporary closure.
Brookside Gardens General Information: 301-962-1400
"Wings of Fancy" Hotline: 301-962-1453
From Monday, May 4 through Thursday, June 14, and from September 1- 18, 2009, many area school children will visit the exhibit on weekdays from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.. During these times, individuals may prefer to visit the exhibit after 1 p.m. to avoid crowds and for easier access to parking in the conservatory parking lot. The parking lot at the Visitor Center is much larger, but is almost a half mile walk from the exhibit location. Buses may drop off visitors at the conservatory, but may not park in the conservatory lot due to space limitations. They may park at the Visitor Center and return to the conservatory to pick up visitors at a designated time.
Planning a visit for the morning hours after public schools close for the summer is another way to avoid crowds and enjoy the butterflies when the temperatures in the exhibit are more comfortable.
"Wings of Fancy" is located inside a greenhouse, which is usually ten degrees warmer than the outside temperature. The exhibit is also more humid than the outside environment and temperatures increase over the course of the day. 
Visiting the butterfly exhibit and seeing the gardens requires a fair amount of walking. We encourage all visitors to bring water with them during hot weather and to drink water regularly to replace water lost as sweat. We want all our visitors to have a safe and enjoyable visit to Brookside Gardens and "Wings of Fancy" and we look forward to seeing your group at Brookside Gardens.
The Butterfly Exhibit is located in Brookside Gardens south conservatory located at 1500 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD 20902. The Visitors Center is located at 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD 20902. Call 301-962-1400 for more information
Volunteers
Volunteers are needed throughout the season. You can apply on-line to volunteer in the exhibit. Visit the
ParksVolunteers Homepage and click on "Search Opportunities.
Call the Volunteer Coordinator at 301-962-1429 for more information, or e-mail mcp-GardenVolunteer@mncppc-mc.org.
An e-Learning web-based training course is available along with on-site training.
2009 Sponsors
Thanks to our 2009 sponsors:
- The Silver Spring Garden Club
- The Takoma Horticultural Club
- Washington Gardener: The Magazine for Washington DC area gardening enthusiasts
Brookside Gardens Conservatories
The Conservatories at Brookside Gardens consist of two glass buildings joined by a short hallway. The Conservatories house a large collection of tropical plants including banana, giant bird of paradise, and mimosa as well as seasonal displays in the spring, summer, and autumn and a terrific holiday show. The Conservatories are often used for special programs, such as the spring Sculpture Show and live Butterfly Exhibit in summer.
Besides the "Wings of Fancy" Live Butterfly Exhibit, the Conservatories at Brookside Gardens host three more changing shows each year:
- Spring Display: January through April
- Fall Chrysanthemum Display: October through November
- Winter: December
Date of last update: April 28, 2009
Montgomery County Department of Parks