Park Picks

Park Picks

This Earth Month, we are excited about plants! In this week’s Parks’ Picks, we have five opportunities to get involved with plants through community science, art, and gardening, and to just enjoy their beauty.

Purchase native species and help support programs at Black Hill Nature Programs, Locust Grove Nature Center, and Maydale Nature Classroom.

Maydale Nature Classroom online sales are underway now. Locust Grove Nature Center phone sales are April 11, 15, 18, and 25 from 10 am to 4 pm. The in-person sale at Locust Grove is May 8 and 9. Online orders begin for Friends of Black Hill members April 29, and the sale opens to the public April 30 through May 2.

Shop the Montgomery Parks Native Plant Sales.

Brookside Gardens Tulips

See the spring colors come to life at Brookside Gardens. The tulips are coming into bloom and will be at peak color this weekend.

“Ask an Arborist” Facebook Live

Were you able to sign up for a slot to receive a free tree seedling at one of our giveaways this month? Or have you picked up your own tree seedling at your local nursery for spring planting? Not sure of the best way to plant the young trees?

Montgomery Parks’ Urban Forester Andy Driscoll gives some planting tips.

Catch our “Ask an Arborist” Facebook Live Friday, April 30 at 12:15 pm, where we will talk about pruning, pests and diseases and other tree care topics.

Tree seedling growing. Image: Flickr, Olga Nohra, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

Photo Credit: Flickr, Olga Nohra, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

Take and Make It: Fabulous Flowers

Stop by the Black Hill Visitor Center on Sunday, April 25, from 1:30 to 3 pm, and pick up a craft kit to work on at home. The craft kit is all about fabulous spring flowers! Kits include instructions and most supplies needed for the craft.

Orange flower surrounded by green leaves.

Become a Community Scientist in Your Own Backyard – Join the City Nature Challenge

Join Locust Grove Nature Center naturalist Jackie Raiford for a virtual lecture on Thursday, April 15, from 7 to 8 pm to learn how to use the iNaturalist app to submit your own nature observations when you participate in the City Nature Challenge. By submitting photos of wildlife and plants through the iNaturalist app, you contribute to important ecological studies that help scientists better understand the plants and animals of our local landscape.

Adult male looking through branches on parkland.

Montgomery Parks…It’s All Here!

Discover our previous Parks Picks

Black History Month - February 1, 2021

Celebrate Black History Month with Montgomery Parks in February! Here are our Parks’ Picks for virtual history programs and self-guided tours of historic sites and trails.

Josiah Henson Museum and Park is our newest historic site, and we are working to open it to the public soon. Join us for two special free virtual viewings about the life of Josiah Henson and the archaeology of the site. First is the rebroadcast of the PBS film Redeeming Uncle Tom: The Josiah Henson Story on Wednesday, February 10 at 7 pm to learn more about the author, abolitionist, and minister. This program is a partnership with Maryland Public Television. The second online program, Time Team America: The Search for Josiah Henson, on Wednesday, February 24 at 7 pm, highlights the archaeology of the Isaac Riley plantation, which is part of the new park.

Family historian Jennifer Halsey leads the free virtual genealogy workshop The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity on Thursday, February 16 at 6:30 pm. Register for this introductory workshop to better understand your identity and family history.

Join the Black History Month Panel Discussion and Musical Performance on on Thursday, February 25 at 2 pm. The free live program features music by Washington Revels Jubilee Voices and a panel discussion with leading experts on the legacy of Josiah Henson.

You also can learn about African American history in your own backyard. Take a self-guided tour of the Underground Railroad Experience Trail at Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park. The trail is open sunrise to sunset daily, and interpretive panels are available along the way. Before heading out, check RainoutLine for trail status.

Oakley Cabin African American Museum and Park features the last-remaining house of a nineteenth century African American community on Brookville Road. Learn more about the historic site on our website then visit in-person. The park is free and open dawn to dusk daily.

Montgomery Parks…it’s all here!
Things to Love about Montgomery Parks - February 9, 2021

It’s the season of love, and there are many reasons to love Montgomery Parks! Here are five things to love about our parks and trails:

Time with Your Loved One

Spend time with your special someone exploring our parks and trails and play Virtual Winter Bingo. Collect BINGO, submit your card and be entered in a drawing to win a great prize!

Love of Creativity

Make Nature Valentines – Saturday, February 13

This year, consider collecting outdoor items to create your very own nature valentine. Before the virtual program, go on a walk and collect nuts, sticks, and other natural items. During the program, we will share why we collected our items, and assemble our valentines.

Virtual Nature, Paint and Wine – Thursday, February 18

Join us in this virtual opportunity in crafting some magic with paint led by a naturalist painter. After picking up the paint kit from the nature center, you will be able to follow a naturalist on a live online call, where you will be able to learn about the meanings of nature and how you can turn them into a beautiful canvas.

Love of Play

Hike and Seek: I ❤️ Nature – Sunday, February 14

Looking for a little adventure? Follow the clues and work together with your family to solve a new nature-themed puzzle each month in Hike and Seek at Locust Grove Nature Center.

Love of Views

There are many places within Montgomery Parks to catch a gorgeous sunset. One of our favorites is the view over Little Seneca Lake at Black Hill Regional Park!

Love of Discovery

Discover a new trail or park to explore with your family and friends! With over 250 miles of trails and 424 parks, there is somewhere new and exciting to explore every day in Montgomery Parks!

Montgomery Parks…it’s all here!
Winter Activities - February 18, 2021

Montgomery Parks offers a variety of programs and events to keep you active during the winter months. Check out our Parks Picks of the top five activities happening at our parks and nature centers:

Hikes

Friday Hike it Out – Friday, February 19

Join us at Meadowside Nature Center and chill and listen to the world’s first disc jockey (DJ): nature. Hike with new friends, take care of yourself after a long week, and practice being present in nature by engaging your senses. We will notice the work and interactions of wild things on this day, in this season.

Story Times

Beyond the Book: Owl Moon – Tuesday, February 23

Join us at Maydale Nature Classroom for a reading of “Owl ,” as we learn all about owls and make a craft to take home.

Virtual Programs

For the Birds: Natural Ornaments – Friday, February 24

The winter can be a hard time for birds, as they search for food. By using a few supplies at home, learn how to create natural ornaments that you hang outside to help feed the birds. A suggested list of supplies will be emailed before the program to help you prepare for this virtual program. We will use the Microsoft Teams platform for this program.

Maple Sugaring Days – Throughout the month of February

Maple Sugaring Days at Brookside Nature Center is a fun, learn-as-you-go outdoor tour about the process of making maple syrup and the science and natural science around it. Enjoy the self-guided interpretive Maple Trail walk until February 28.

Winter Bingo

Winter is the perfect time to explore our parks and trails. Play our Virtual Winter Bingo, collect BINGO, submit your card and be entered in a drawing to win a great prize!

So, get outdoors and into the parks!

Montgomery Parks…it’s all here!
Best Fishing Spots - February 25, 2021

Year-round fishing is allowed in our streams, ponds, and lakes, unless otherwise noted by signs. This week, we have five Parks’ Picks for best fishing spots around Montgomery Parks.

Before heading out on your angling adventures, remember to follow state fishing guidelines. Individuals sixteen and older must have a Maryland freshwater fishing license. Visit Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ website for license information, fees, and fishing regulations.

Black Hill Regional Park

Little Seneca Lake is a popular place for fishing. Anglers will find largemouth bass, catfish, bluegill, crappie, tiger muskie, and yellow perch. You can throw in your hook from the shores daily or from a private boat March 1 to December 15. Apply for a daily or seasonal permit at ActiveMONTGOMERY.org or deposit daily permit fees in onsite boxes. From late May to September, you can rent rowboats, kayaks, and canoes at Black Hill Boats.

Rock Creek Regional Park

Rock Creek Regional Park has two favorite fishing areas: Lake Needwood and Lake Frank. Both are home to largemouth bass, crappie, catfish, and bluegill. In the spring, Lake Needwood is stocked with trout. Bring a chair and spend some time on the shores casting and, hopefully, reeling in dinner. Like Little Seneca Lake, you can fish from a private boat late winter to later fall on Lake Needwood or rent a boat at Lake Needwood Boats in the summer.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Recreational Park

Looking for a less crowded, quieter site? Martin Luther King, Jr. Recreational Park is in southern Montgomery County and has a small lake waiting just for you. It is stocked with trout, among other fish.

Wheaton Regional Park

Wheaton Regional Park’s Pine Lake is a favorite with anglers. You can fish from the high paved walkway or on the grass closer to the water.

Streams

While our lakes and ponds are great fishing spots, don’t forget our streams. They have lots of aquatic life and are great areas for maybe just practicing your fishing skills. Remember, please follow posted guidelines, if there are no fishing signs.

And, this time of year, a reminder to be careful with ice on our lakes, ponds, and streams. For your safety, never venture onto any ice.

So, get a license and grab your tackle and pole and go fishing! Montgomery Parks…it’s all here!
Women's History Month - March 4, 2021

To mark Women’s History Month, we want to highlight five of our parks named for local leaders, scientists, farmers, and educators. Then, we hope you will visit the parks and remember them and their contributions.

Rachel Carson Conservation Park

Biologist Rachel Carson wrote her acclaimed book Silent Spring from her Silver Spring home in 1962. The work made Americans more ecologically aware and sparked the modern environmental movement. In 1977, the Montgomery Planning Board approved a staff recommendation to name a new “wild park” for the scientist.

Photo Credit: Department of Agriculture, Flickr, CC PDM 1.0.

Rachel Carson Conservation Park is a 650-acre park dedicated not only to environmental preservation but also to quiet enjoyment of nature. There are six miles of natural surface trails for hiking and equestrian use.

Lois Y. Green Conservation Park

Lois Y. Green donated 250 acres of her property, formerly known as Turkey Thicket Farm, to Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) forty-six years ago.

Photo Credit: M-NCPPC Archives

Lois Y. Green directed to M-NCPPC that the land “… shall be used as an open space, for parkland, and for recreation in such a manner as to evidence the conservation of soil, water, woods, and wildlife… and shall be maintained essentially in its natural condition…”

Today, Lois Y. Green Conservation Park, has four miles of trails and is an oasis in a highly-developed area in the northern part of the county.

Edith Throckmorton Neighborhood Park

Edith Throckmorton was an educator and civil rights activist. She taught in Montgomery County Public Schools for twenty-five years as a teacher and principal. And, she was president of the local chapter of the National Association of the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) from 1962 to 1977.

Photo Credit: Montgomery History.

Montgomery Parks acquired the park property from the Ken-Gar Civic Association in the 1992, and, at the time, already was named for Edith Throckmorton. Edith Throckmorton Neighborhood Park is pocket park, being only one-fifth of an acre, and plans are underway for renovations.

Caroline Freeland Urban Park

Caroline Freeland Urban Park is just off downtown Bethesda with a playground, open shelter, and benches.

Photo Credit: Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Archives

The park is named for the first woman to chair M-NCPPC. Caroline Freeland served from 1963 to 1971, and, during her leadership, Montgomery Parks more than doubled in size—from 7,600 to 16,000 acres.

Opal Daniels Neighborhood Park

Opal A. Daniels Neighborhood Park is tucked away in a residential neighborhood in Takoma Park with an oval-shaped field, playground, grill, and gazebo.

The citizens of Takoma Park asked that the park be renamed for Opal A. Daniels, who had served on the town’s recreation council for forty years.

Photo Credit: Historic Takoma, Daniels Family Collection

In 1988, Montgomery Planning Board approved the name change from Sheridan-Hancock Neighborhood Park to Opal A. Daniels Memorial Park to honor her “exceptional merit.”

These women played major roles in building today’s county and park system. Remember and honor them when you spend time in these parks.
Good Sportsmanship Month - March 11, 2021

Governor Larry Hogan proclaimed March Good Sportsmanship Month in Maryland. To celebrate, we have rounded up the top five places within Montgomery Parks to show off your athletic prowess and practice good sportsmanship skills.

Tennis Centers

Work on your serve during lessons, round robin play, and spot time year-round at Wheaton Indoor Tennis and Pauline Betz Addie Indoor Tennis.

Follow these tips from the United States Tennis Association (USTA) to show good sportsmanship skills, while playing on the court.

Ice Rinks

Glide across the ice and take ice skating or hockey lessons at Cabin John Ice Rink and Wheaton Ice Arena.

Show your good sportsmanship by following this piece of advice from Cabin John Ice Rink Skating Director Jenni Cashen.

South Germantown Driving Range

Perfect your golf swing at South Germantown Driving Range. Take advantage of the early bird specials on Saturday and Sunday mornings and lunch specials during the week. The driving range is open year-round and features 33 elevated tees, a putting green, and a sand bunker.

Wheaton Sports Pavilion

Reserve Wheaton Sports Pavilion for your next lacrosse or soccer practice session or game. The facility’s covered synthetic turf field is lighted and is the perfect place to play, when weather conditions don’t allow for outdoor games or practices to be held.

Athletic Fields

We are taking athletic field reservations for low and medium-risk sports (soccer, baseball, cricket, softball, ultimate frisbee, lacrosse, field hockey) practices and games. These fields are available for both adult and youth sports league use.

Join the fun and get out and play in Montgomery Parks!
Signs of Spring: Animals - March 18, 2021

Spring begins Saturday, March 20. There are many signs already that the new season is here. Wildflowers, like snowdrops and daffodils, are blooming. Many animals are announcing their arrivals with calls and croaks, as they emerge from dormancy (or hibernation) and mate.

Spring not only can be a time for joy, but also a time to challenge us. We’ve worked with our wildlife ecologists to come up with five signs of spring to look and listen for, and to be cautious about, in this week’s Parks’ Picks.

Frogs

Frogs are one of the first sounds of spring. And, you probably have heard the love song lately of the male spring peeper hoping to swoon nearby females.

Frogs (and toads) lay eggs in small seasonal pools (vernal pools) and other wetlands. Please, listen and watch these amorous amphibians, but do not pick them up. Also, use your eyes only to enjoy the eggs and their many changes. Check out this resource for information about local species.

Snakes

Another arrival is slithering or sunning near our rocky areas, ponds, rivers, and streams. Copperheads and other snakes are active particularly through April and May, as they seek potential mates and to regulate their body temperature by warming up in the sun on cool, spring days

The eastern copperhead is the only venomous snake in Montgomery County and is well-camouflaged to blend in with the forest floor. This is one good reason to stay on our trails and not go exploring where an unassuming copperhead could be easily missed.

However, you may see one on your hike. If you do, observing from a safe distance and never attempt to handle a snake. Remain vigilant. Most snake strikes and bites occur through their own self-defense. Usually, this defense comes as a result of being stepped on or intentionally handled.

And, remember it is illegal in Maryland to kill any snake.

Visit our website for more information about copperheads and other snakes.

Turtles

Another reptile on the move this spring is the turtle. You may encounter the eastern box turtle in the parks or on the trails. But, you may also see one crossing a road, particularly during May and June when females are seeking nesting sites. If you want to help the animal, move the turtle gently across the road to the side and point it in the direction it was moving.

Bears

Montgomery County occasionally gets a large, furry visitor in mid-spring. Young black bears may pass through in May and June. Here are three tips, if you see one: Keep your distance, and back away slowly. Keep your dog leashed. And, ping us on social media with any photos and location information so our wildlife ecologists can keep tabs on the animal’s presence. You can get lots of great information about living with black bears on our website.

Photo: Flickr, gainesp2003, CC By-NC 2.0.

Babies

We will see more babies in the parks soon. Well, more of the four-legged kind. Lots of babies will be born! Coyotes will give birth to pups, deer to fawns, and eastern cottontails to kits.

While in the parks, you may see some of the little ones by themselves. Don’t panic. Sometimes parents leave the babies alone while they go off to look for food.

Many people are sad and think the young is abandoned, especially when stumbling across a fawn or rabbit litter. Our wildlife ecologists advise to leave the babies alone. Any act to help may do more harm than good.

Check out this new resource on our website to find out more information about encountering wildlife.

Now, go outdoors and enjoy wildlife in the parks this spring.

Montgomery Parks, it’s all here.
Spring Break Activities - March 25, 2021

Next week is spring break for Montgomery County Public School students, and there’s no better way to spend the time off than exploring Montgomery Parks. From skating and golf clinics to nature programs to open spaces, Montgomery Parks has something for adults and children to enjoy. Here are five activities for you to do next week in our Parks’ Picks.

Ice Skating and Hockey Clinics

Lace up your skates and improve your skating and hockey skills in our spring break clinics at Cabin John Ice Rink and Wheaton Ice Arena. And, just a friendly reminder, we are not holding public skate sessions at this time.

Golf

Work on your golf swing at South Germantown Driving Range. Take advantage of weekday lunch hour and early morning weekend specials.

Or, receive professional instruction from our instructors during one of our golf clinics:
Ladies Clinic – Monday, March 29, 6 to 7 pm
Junior Golf Clinic – Thursday, April 1, 6:30 to 7:30 pm, and Saturday, April 3, 1 to 2 pm

Nature Programs

Explore the outdoors during family-friendly programs throughout the week:

Not So Early Birding – Sunday, March 28, 10 to 11 am
Learn birding basics from binocular use to identifying birds by field marks and aptly describing their position in yonder tree during this family-friendly program.

Crafty Little Naturalist – Wednesday, March 31, 10 to 11 am
Join a Brookside Nature Center Naturalist, who will lead participants in a nature craft creation to make and take home.

Parents, enjoy some time without the kids during our adults-only programs.

Let’s Hike: Wheaton Regional Park – Saturday, April 3, 10:30 am to 12 pm
Wear your hiking boots and dress for the outdoors and don’t forget your water and trail snacks as you join a park naturalist for this adults-only two to three mile hike to explore the trails of Wheaton Regional Park.

DIY Nature: Boho Dream Catcher Style Plant Stand – Saturday, April 3, 2 to 4 pm
Come join us as we enjoy the fresh air, work with our hands and tap into our creative side and complete a project using a mixture of salvaged, recycled and used materials..

Brookside Gardens

Take a stroll through Brookside Gardens and watch the springtime colors come to life.

And, visit our “Facets of Hope” exhibit to reflect on and remember the more than 1,400 Montgomery County residents who have died from COVID-19 this past year.

Open Parkways

Go for a run or take a family walk or bike ride on our Open Parkways. Portions of Sligo Creek and Beach Drive are open for exercise from 9 am on Fridays through Sundays at 6 pm. Starting Saturday, March 27, portions of Little Falls Parkway will also be open Saturdays at 7 am through Sundays at 6 pm.

Montgomery Parks…it’s all here

Upcoming Events

Montgomery Parks, part of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, is celebrating Earth Month with eco-friendly activities and special events throughout the month of April. See all the events and programs planned.

Locust Grove Nature Center, Maydale Nature Classroom and Black Hill Nature Programs in Montgomery Parks will be hosting Native Plant Sales in the month of April. Visit our plant sale page.

What does climate change have to do with me?

In this talk, local climate change expert, Karen Metchis, will discuss the ways that climate change is affecting our lives and how we can protect our families, homes and businesses. Register to attend: mocoparks.org/NVLclimate

April is Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month. To recognize its significance, agencies from across the county are “shining brighter together” to bring engaging programs, activities and mini-events for all to enjoy. Check it out!

Our Summer Camp Guide is now online! Registration begins Monday, March 15, 2021, on ActiveMontgomery.com

Last Updated: April 8, 2021