If you love the colorful beauty of butterflies and the plants that provide them with food and feed their caterpillars, then a visit to a local butterfly house in Maryland is a must. You can view each winged beauty up close while learning about their life cycle, the plants they use, and their habitat.
Wings of Fancy
Brookside Gardens
1500 Glenallan Ave.
Wheaton, MD 20902
301-962-1400
Brookside Gardens website
HOURS: 10 am – 5 pm. Daily May through September
The Conservatory in Brookside Garden hosts a “Wings of Fancy” live butterfly and caterpillar exhibit annually. See butterflies from all over the world feeding from nectar plants. You can view butterflies in all stages of the life cycle from egg to pupa to full grown butterfly.
Food and host plants are labeled and information about butterflies and their life cycles are displayed on panels in the exhibit. Naturalists in the exhibit can tell you more about each butterfly and plant.
Group visits are encouraged, but requested that you contact the Garden in advance.
ACCESSIBILITY: Unknown. The paths are wide and paved.
Ladew Topiary Gardens
3535 Jarrettsville PIke
Monkton, MD 21111
410-557-9570
Ladew Gardens website
HOURS: 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Weekdays (Summer months)
This open-air house is only open during the summer months. It is filled with native butterflies and the plants that supply them with food, shelter, and as host plants for caterpillars. The butterflies are collected from the area surrounding the property.
Naturalists are available to talk about the life cycle of the butterfly and its role as a pollinator. Native plants surround the butterfly house, so don’t be surprised if you see some butterflies roaming around.
ACCESSIBILITY: Gravel walkways. Not easily accessible.