Sunday, July 14, 2019

Mosaic Monday #36: Spokane City Parks

Wisteria along the river
Do you remember my admiration for Spokane's river walkways in my June 16 post?  My love affair with its city parks deepened on the fourth day of our May visit.  We began with another walk along the river; marmots and Canada geese shared the morning sunshine free of the rain from previous days.  After a leisurely stroll, we hopped into the truck.  The Crown Jewel of Spokane City Parks - Manito Park - awaited us across town.

In 1904, ninety-five acres of land was donated to the City of Spokane.  Montrose Park was re-named, "Manito", a Native American word meaning "a supernatural force that pervades nature."  After reveling in the glory of its gardens, I can tell you that the name choice is ideal!
Mirror Pond: I was struck by the appearance of a park nestled in a 
residential area; I assume the homes were built AFTER the park.
Wouldn't you love to have this park across the street from your house?

For many years, Manito's main attractions were its exhibition gardens and small zoo.  In 1912, a conservatory was added, followed by a three-acre sunken garden in 1913.  Given that we were visiting Spokane in part for the Lilac Festival, it was fitting that the Lilac Garden at Manito was in top form.  The variety and the aroma was almost too much for the senses to take in!  Trust me that I took many more pictures than this, but you get only the best!

In 1912, John Duncan obtained 128 named lilac cultivars from Rochester, NY.
This marked the beginning of the Lilac Garden.  Today, this garden contains well
over 100 named cultivars from 23 distinct species, making it one of the most
important lilac gardens in the west.

Japanese Garden
By its Centennial Celebration in 2004, numerous additions and improvements had been made.  Additional signage was introduced throughout the park; pergolas in the Rose Garden, changes in the Japanese Garden and the gazebo in Duncan Gardens all enhance the setting. 

The simplicity and serenity of a Japanese garden is soothing and always appeals to me on many levels - the colors, water features, bridges, stone work.  It was only later, upon reading the garden brochure thoroughly, that I learned photography is not permitted in the Japanese garden.  Oops.
After 12 years of planning, the Japanese garden became a reality in the spring of 1974.

Duncan Garden was originally called the Sunken Garden.  The garden was designed in a formal European style
with bilateral symmetry, a central water feature and geometrical planting beds.  I am sure later in the year it
would be stunning with the annuals in full bloom.
Today the park is one of the few in the nation with such a diverse horticultural display.  Manito Park has a reputation as the primary garden showplace in Spokane and is toured by over 150,000 visitors every year.  It's easy to see why, right?
Perennial Garden
Perennial Garden

By now we had worked up an appetite.  As faithful readers know, we tend to seek out unique restaurants.  And if it's been featured on "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives", all the better.  And if it serves all-day breakfast, it's a lock.  The Satellite Diner and Lounge fit the profile, and we were not disappointed.  Strong coffee, efficient staff, and a light sheen of grease in the air soon gave us to know we had chosen wisely.  Even now my taste buds can recall this eminently satisfying dish!
I had "Hen Fruit on the Red River" - an egg on chili!!!

The rest of our day was spent attending the Spokane Lilac Festival Parade - but you'll have to wait for a future post to see glittering floats, pretty princesses and booming marching bands.  Until then ...

Panorama of rock garden
Horse Chestnut Tree

Welcome to Mosaic Monday, a weekly meme where we get together to share our photo mosaics and collages.
Please include at least one photo mosaic/collage in your post.
The link will be open from 1 p.m. Sunday until 11 p.m. Monday (U.S. Mountain time).
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Please link back to this post so that your readers will be able to visit and enjoy more wonderful mosaics; taking the MM blog button from my sidebar is an easy way to link back.
As host I will visit every participant and leave a comment so that you know I stopped by.
Please try and visit as many other blogs as you can, especially those that join in later, so that everyone's creativity can be appreciated fully.
Thank you for joining in today and sharing your mosaics with us.
 

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40 comments:

  1. Such a beautiful and colourful place and such wonderful photos. BTW, I LOVE "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives"! :D

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  2. ...lush comes to mind when I think of the Pacific Northwest! Just beautiful.

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  3. Totally beautiful! We look forward to all the gorgeous places and things you show us.

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  4. I have a lot of catch up to do--it has been a busy and unexpected time--but glad to be back! Spokane looks beautiful!

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  5. The little geese are so amazing in the Clip... it's a lovely garden. Thank you for sharing.

    Happy MosaicMonday

    Heidrun xxx

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  6. Stunning views from these gardens Angie.The formal Duncan Garden looks so tidy and ready for summer's color splash, but most I like the Japanese garden. Really beautiful <3 Thank you for sharing & whosting, wishing happy MM.

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  7. Hello Angie, what a beautiful park. I love the lilacs, pretty blooms. The Mirror Pond and Japanese Garden are lovely sights. The diner food looks delicious. Spokane looks like a beautiful place to visit. Thanks for hosting MM. Have a happy day and a great new week!

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  8. I love the Indian name and meaning of it...just perfect! It's a beautiful place to spend the day. Love that Horse Chestnut bloom. I don't know if I've ever looked at one up close! Happy MM! Hugs!

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  9. What a delightful park, Angie. It is a truly enlightened city that provides such gardens for the enjoyment of its citizens. Lovely photos!

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  10. Quite remarkable variety of plants, Angie, but those lilacs are stunning!

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  11. is that where chestnuts come from that I have at Christmas? So many pretty pics. The stone bench, the lavender flowers outlined in white. LeeAnna

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  12. A wonderful Monday share. Have a good week

    much love...

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  13. Never been to the Lilac Festival---don't know why---but I have been to the Park several times. You have to go back when Duncan Sunken Garden is in full flower---astounding. I loved the rose gardens too. The Japanese garden is peaceful and beautiful. Thanks for all the pics.
    MB

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  14. I will remember the meaning of Manito for my future novels. What an action packed visit. Lots of sights and great food too.

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  15. The symmetry is exquisite, indeed, and a bit reminiscent of British gardens. Amid the chaos of existence, there is something reassuring about the orderly.

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  16. Such a beautiful park and gardens, the lilacs perrume must be amazing. The horse chestnut flower is beautiful. We are lucky here in Aus and NZ most towns have Botanic Gardens with amazing plants in them.

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  17. Duncan Garden is particularly delightful!

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  18. Thank you Angie for sharing such a beautiful park and thank you for your 36th Mosaic Monday.
    Joy

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  19. Cool! Our horse chestnut has white blossoms!

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  20. Beautiful gardens! Thanks for hosting.

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  21. To live nearby and explore every nook and cranny, Angie. I've only gone through Spokane and eastern Washington once but the once made a mighty big impression on me. I think it would be fun to go traveling and eating at places that Guy featured on his show. Droooool.

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  22. I just loved this post Angie...I was born in Spokane, but grew up from age 7 in Clarkston, about 100 miles away, down in the valley on the Idaho border .... I marched in the Lilac Festival Parade twice (a big deal for our little podunk towns’s high school band). Haven’t been to Spokane for many years... my late brother and his family lived there and we toured Manitoe Park once when we visited them Thanks for the beauty and the (bittersweet) memories. ))

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  23. Beautiful flowers, trees, and landscapes - great mosaics too!

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  24. Yes Angie. That Duncan Gardens could just as well have been in the English countryside. Not so sure about that "Classic Breakfast Grub though. It sort of gives away the location. By the way I love that word manito - very evocative of Red Indians.

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  25. Beautiful flowers Angie, and lay out of the gardens, fantastic.

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  26. i have never been to spokane, it looks so beautiful. the flowers, gardens and reflections are so pretty!! an egg on chili, now that sounds interesting!!

    i am excited to see pictures of the spokane lilac festival parade....i love parades and lilacs are my favorite flower!!

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  27. It's great when cities set aside land for parks. Even huge Los Angeles has beautiful areas in the midst of all the urban sprawl. I've only been to Spokane a few times. We've stayed there while attending football and basketball games at WSU. It's a long drive but there are so many more places to find to stay. - Margy

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  28. Beautiful gardens and beautiful photos.
    I love your mosaics, they are pretty to see.

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  29. Thank you for sharing this beautiful place. Your photographs are breathtaking, especially of the Japanese Garden! Spokane is definitely on my wish list to visit!

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  30. Lovely series of photos of a lovely place ~ favorite is the stone bench covered in white petals ~

    Happy Day to you,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  31. You are a great spokesperson for Spokane. You visited Manito in prime season. I'll have to make sure we make it back to the park after the lilacs bloom next year. Beautiful photos. We are headed to Spokane tomorrow for shopping. I'll have to check out where that restaurant is. Happy Wednesday to you!

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  32. Hi Angie what a great post I found it very interesting the history of the gardens and the flowers are so pretty what a beautiful area,thankyou for sharing xx

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  33. I had completely forgot about the gardens. We took the kids there many years ago and your pics reminded me of how lovely they were. I must go again! :) Kit

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  34. You know there is not much I like more than a great garden and this looks like one of them. Large size, variety of styles, lots of different plants, great design. Sign me. If I get to Spokane this is where I am going to be.

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  35. Lovely shots! Wisteria is my favourite.

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  36. Wow! This looks such a beautiful place to visit. I have enjoyed all of your photographs … so much glorious colour.

    All the best Jan

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  37. Manito Park is so picturesque. Gorgeous gardens and flowers. Love the Duncan Garden! I can easily imagine you having a wonderful time there walking and photographing!

    -Soma

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  38. Davvero bello! Mi piacerebbe davvero avere un posto simile vicino a casa oppure trovare lavoro li :D

    Buona domenica e grazie per le immagini!

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