Tiptoe through the tulips...

Spring is in the air.  The birds are singing, trees are budding, flowers are blooming.  Where oh where in the endless strip malls of Wheaton can a person go to get in touch with nature?  Brookside Gardens, of course!

Not only is Brookside one of the hidden gems of Wheaton, but even better, it's all free (except for that butterfly exhibit they sometimes have).  The garden features paved paths wandering through a variety of landscapes, which are all beautifully maintained.  They also have a main visitor center and two inter-connected greenhouses that are great to visit even if the weather outside isn't so nice.  On a recent visit, I found fields of tulips in bloom.  You can either drive to the garden or if you live close to Wheaton Regional Park, you can walk through the park to reach the garden (more on the regional park in a future post!). 

http://www.brooksidegardens.org/