From any vantage point on our campus you can stop, look around, and see a lush expanse of trees. That’s because Asbury is an officially certified arboretum, boasting 134 acres of beautiful foliage, walking trails, and wildlife. With rolling hills, two ponds and stream and green spaces rich with beautiful shrubs, cherry trees and our Nature Preserve, there’s a reason that National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore called Asbury “a rural oasis in an urban setting.”

Home to a 17-acre Nature Preserve, Asbury Methodist Village is a certified Wildlife at Work site with a commitment to maintaining an eco-friendly campus that goes beyond just having a beautiful place to live. Asbury is dedicated to nurturing our environment and creating a space that will grow, evolve and sustain hundreds of species of plant and animal life for decades to come.

What began in 2005 as a group of residents seeking to create a bird sanctuary has grown into a much larger commitment to use our beautiful green space to help the Gaithersburg community and the planet. Steered by a volunteer campus council of residents and associates, the Nature Preserve has created a safe haven for foxes, bluebirds, waterfowl, endangered honey bees, and has served as a place for area school children to explore nature and art.

Pollinator gardens managed by residents attract butterflies and birds. In fact, one resident, an avid birder, has spotted more than 130 species of birds on campus since he moved here two years ago.

Environmental stewardship on campus

In 2019, our campus became the first continuing care retirement community in Maryland to earn arboretum status from Arbnet. The arboretum is governed by the resident-run Wildlife Habitat Team with additional support from interested associates and the Building, Grounds and Environment Partnership Advisory Committee.

Asbury Methodist Village continues to grow its environmental commitment, which includes multiple years of recognition from Gaithersburg City for our recycling efforts. In 2017 Asbury partnered with Compost Crew to turn our food waste into compost, contributing to healthy gardens all across Montgomery County, Md. In our first year, Asbury saved close to 84 tons of food waste from our kitchens and dining venues from entering landfills. Since then, Asbury has expanded our composting program to include food waste from residents who live at our community, and in 2022 recycled close to 254,000 pounds of food scraps.

Community gardens for residents

If you love gardening, you’ll find Asbury Methodist Village is the perfect spot to keep your green thumb going. Located by the Wallace Apartments, our spacious community gardens provide full sun for growing just about any type of flower, vegetable, fruit, or grain your heart desires. From spring through fall, it’s a colorful, fascinating, and beautiful place to be!

The Asbury Garden Club keeps you informed and nurtures new friendships and plant exchanges. Garden club members pay a small yearly fee and enjoy amenities such as water spigots, carts, Leaf-gro, and extra soil. Garden sheds contain communal garden tools and individual storage bins. Our campus is home to quite a few certified master gardeners and plenty of ‘amateurs’ who have incredible expertise to share!

Contact Us
For More Info

Let's Discuss
Your Future