Manito Park is a Spokane treasure

The Duck Pond is a central feature at Spokane's Manito Park. (Julianne G. Crane)

Manito Park and Botanical Gardens in Spokane, Wash., is a 90-acre public park with five gardens, arboretum, conservatory and duck pond that are appreciated by more than 150,000 visitors each year.

Duncan Gardens in Manito Park.  (Julianne G. Crane)

Nestled in the South Hill section of The Lilac City, the park includes spacious manicured lawns, playgrounds, and walking and biking paths. A perfect family outing and destination point for many RVers traveling through the Inland Northwest.

Central fountain (Julianne G. Crane

The Gardens: 

- Duncan Garden (above) is a formal 3-acre European garden with a large central granite fountain (right); designed and built in 1913.

The arrangement of the flower beds and plants make the Duncan Garden symmetrical. This is a popular location for  engagement and wedding pictures.

Ferris Perennial Garden (Julianne G. Crane)

- Gaiser Conservatory sits at the top end of the Duncan Garden and houses exotic tropical plants and seasonal flowers.

- Joel E. Ferris Perennial Garden features hundreds of colorful perennial plants painstakingly cared for by an army of volunteer master gardeners.

Thousands of roses (Julianne G. Crane)

- Rose Hill has more than 1,500 rose bushes representing more than 150 varieties. It is an All-America Selections rose test garden.

- Nishinomiya Japanese Garden was created in honor of Nishinomiya, Japan, Spokane's sister city. In 1967 noted landscape architect Nagao Sakurai began its design. After his stroke in 1973, designs were completed by Shosuke Nagai and Hirohiko Kawai and the garden was dedicated in 1974.

RVer Jimmy Smith (left) relaxing in Manito Park's Japanese Garden. (Julianne G. Crane)

Location:
17th Ave and Grand Blvd. in Spokane, Wash., USA.
Open daily without charge.

Sources of information:
- Manito Park.org, Wikipedia,

To read more of Julianne G. Crane's writings go to RVWheelLife.com