Wheaton in Silver Spring in Montgomery County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Conservatory

1969

— Brookside Gardens: 40 years (1969-2009) —

Conservatory Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), November 9, 2017

1. Conservatory Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

The original concept for Brookside Gardens was to create an arboretum (a site that primarily focuses on trees and other woody plant materials); however after visiting several botanical gardens in New York plus a stop at Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania in 1966, the original designers realized that a garden, as opposed to an arboretum exclusively dedicated to trees, would be most beneficial to the public. The arboretum exclusively dedicated to trees, would be most beneficial to the public. The goal was to showcase plants that can grow, and most importantly available for purchase, in the Washington DC metropolitan area.

Because there were not any funds available to hire an architect to design the conservatory structure (an integral part of the Gardens' design), Carl Schoening, then Chief of Horticulture for the Parks, designed it himself. According to Carl, the site of the Gardens (on land that was part of Wheaton Regional Park) was selected due to its proximity to Brookside Nature Center, thus providing access for school groups; the land had previously been used as a tree nursery owned by Stadler Nursery; and there was a diverse

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), November 9, 2017

2. Conservatory Marker

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combination of forested land, open space, undulating terrain, and a stream - all providing a varied palette on which to design a garden. This area around the Conservatories is a "frost pocket." As the lowest elevation within the Gardens, it is the first to experience frost in the fall, and the last to warm up in the spring.

Erected by Montgomery Parks.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Horticulture & Forestry • Man-Made Features. A significant historical year for this entry is 1966.

Location. 39° 3.521′ N, 77° 2.069′ W. Marker is in Silver Spring, Maryland, in Montgomery County. It is in Wheaton. Marker can be reached from Glenallan Avenue east of Heurich Road, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1800 Glenallen Avenue, Silver Spring MD 20902, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Formal Gardens (within shouting distance of this marker); What Happened Here? (within shouting distance of this marker); Trial Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); Composting (within shouting distance of this marker); Efficient Irrigation System (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); One Tree's Life (about 400 feet away); Azalea Garden

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(about 500 feet away); Fragrance Garden (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Silver Spring.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 21, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 9, 2017, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 206 times since then and 13 times this year. Last updated on February 19, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 9, 2017, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.