March 12 is National Plant a Flower Day! The best flowers to plant locally in the springtime include daffodils, sweet peas and peonies, according to Maryland Grown Flowers. Less common are the tall, blue, clustering delphinium or the vibrant purple larkspur.
But for some without the space, the correct equipment or a green thumb, it can be easier to go see some spring flowers instead. Here are five places to see what’s in bloom this season, from the classic Brookside Gardens to some smaller, perhaps lesser-known nature centers.
Brighton Dam Azalea Garden
Brookeville, MD
Open March 15 to Nov. 30, sunrise to sunset
What better place than an azalea garden to see 22,000 azalea bushes across five acres of hardwood forest? Dogwood trees tower over the blossoming pinks, reds and whites along the Triadelphia Reservoir. Visitors who prefer less crowded trails should plan to stop by on a weekday morning before 11 a.m. Peak bloom typically occurs in early May.
wsscwater.com/azaleas
Brookside Gardens
Wheaton, MD
Open from sunrise to sunset
This botanical garden is described as a picturesque place for a flowery wedding. Flowers and butterflies are everywhere the eye can see in vibrant spring colors. Tripadvisor suggests carving out two hours just to see where the many pathways take you. The gardens’ 26 cherry trees, local staples of spring, are in full bloom on or around April 1, so don’t miss them!
montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/brookside-gardens
Butler’s Orchard
Germantown, MD
Open April 27 to May 10, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday to Sunday
Mosey along two football fields of sunflowers at the family favorite Butler’s Orchard, where you’ll find props for the perfect Instagram photo. Pick your own peonies in mid-to-late May and from the flower garden in the summer months.
butlersorchard.com
Glenstone Museum
Potomac, MD
Open starting March 20, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday to Sunday
Purple and blue irises bloom by the pond and water lilies emerge on its smooth surface at Glenstone. Just a short stroll among the outdoor sculptures is the museum’s signature piece, Jeff Koons’ 37-foot-tall “Split-Rocker,” featuring more than 50,000 colorful flowering plants — it requires a full-time gardener to maintain!
glenstone.org
Locust Grove Nature Center
Potomac, MD
Open sunrise to dusk
Spring wildflowers, red maple shrubs and tulip trees are in bloom in the forest. The Betsy Dotson Memorial Garden, created in honor of a local lawyer and gardener, features yellow, pink and baby-blue flowers.
montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/cabin-john-regional-park/locust-grove-nature-center
