a black butterfly with red markings site on a branch Brookside Gardens Conservatory in Montgomery County, Maryland

The popular Wheaton, Maryland, attraction offers close-up encounters with hundreds of brilliant butterflies.

By
Debbie Williams

April 6, 2026 at 8:27 am

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If you’ve ever wanted to get up close and personal with hundreds of beautiful butterflies, take note. The Butterfly Experience has returned to Maryland’s Brookside Gardens through September 7.

Visitors will be surrounded by hundreds of species from the Americas, Africa, and Asia as they flutter among tropical blooms. Trained staff and volunteers are also on hand to provide information such as the stages of metamorphosis, the important role butterflies play in healthy ecosystems, and how to ensure the insects thrive in any garden.

“This year’s exhibit inspires awe with species from around the world fluttering with some you might see in your own backyard.,” Stephanie Oberle, director of Brookside Gardens, said in a news release. “We hope to instill a love for butterflies, so that our visitors enjoy their beauty and learn how they can support butterflies in their vital role in our local ecosystem.”

The exhibit is open daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It also includes special photography and sensory-friendly sessions.

Tickets are $10.99 for ages 3 to 12 and $15.99 for 13 and older. Children under age 3 are free. Brookside Gardens Conservatory: 1800 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, Maryland

Feature image courtesy Montgomery Parks

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