Monday, March 7, 2022

Manito Park's Gaiser Conservatory—our first stop for Conservatory Week

Andrew and I recently spent a long weekend up in Spokane with family, a postponed Christmas trip. While out running an errand with my brother (who now lives in Phoenix) we got the urge to drive by our previous homes. Real estate is all about location right? The house I owned in Spokane, before Andrew and I moved to Portland, was just three blocks from Spokane's Manito Park, a 90+ acre park with several distinct gardens within the larger park, including a conservatory. I spent many an hour in the park back then, and was happy to visit again. 

It was a cold February day so we didn't walk through the park but did stop and check out Gaiser Conservatory...

Just inside the door was this Blechnum gibbum, aka Oceaniopteris gibba.

The conservatory has a tall central atrium (seen in the photo at the top of the post) and two wings off to each side. Naturally we went to the left first, to see the desert plants. Wait what? Those aren't desert plants!

What are forced tulips doing where my cactus and agaves should be? 

Thankfully before I had a breakdown I walked a little further in and things started to look up...


Hubba hubba! Variegated Agave victoriae-reginae

Such a glorious (warm) slice of desert on a cold Spokane day.



More forced tulips messing with the cactus and succulents! (why!?)

Back in June of 2014, I acquired a huge Agave victoriae-reginae the conservatory was getting rid of, during a Friends of Manito Plant sale (photos here). A few years later I added to my Gaiser Conservatory collection with a ginormous rhipsalis from another FOM plant sale. Do you get the idea I timed my visits to Spokane from Portland to coincide with the sale? You are correct! I feel so lucky to have plants from their collection.

Check out that long rat-tail cactus! There's 6ft 2in Andrew for scale.

The sun had it all lit up so nicely...

Dolichothele longimamma (Mammillaria longimamma) 

Epiphyllum guatemalense

Leuchtenbergia principis, aka agave cactus or prism cactus



Opuntia Cylindrica Cristata

This rat-tail cactus was spectacular.


And we caught it blooming!

Want. Seriously lusting after this fabulous plant.

But I managed to move on...



Check out how the variegation on that tall yucca (?) travels all the way down to the base of the leaf.

Leaving the desert wing, I spy this jewel orchid that I completely missed on my way in, Ludisia discolor.

Walking on...


After posting this image of a forbidden area on my Instagram account, I made contact with a gardener and greenhouse grower from the conservatory who offered a tour the next time I'm up in Spokane. You know I'll be taking her up on that!

Moving on...


This collection of mounted bromeliads and other plants is very well done, I thought.



What a beauty! Anthurium crystallinum


Looking backwards.

Back in the tall center atrium, ready to call this visit done. I so miss having this treasure (the park and the conservatory) practically in my back yard. In fact this visit had me missing my house in Spokane something awful! 

Outside now, in front of the conservatory looking down at the dormant sunken Duncan Garden—yes, that is snow in the distance. A reminder of how good I've got it in Portland? Spokane winters can be harsh!

Next up for Conservatory Week; on Wednesday we visit another park from my past with a big beautiful conservatory, Volunteer Park in Seattle.

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All material © 2009-2022 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

23 comments:

  1. Cathi LamoreuxMarch 07, 2022

    Dave & I were there a couple of weekends ago and I had the exact same reaction to the forced bulbs in the cacti and succulent wing. I had to stop and get reoriented to the space before I could continue!

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    1. I am glad to know it's not just me! I need to find out why this part of the collection is shrinking.

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  2. How lovely to be able to visit a place like that as a kid.

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    1. Definitely. I grew up living a long way from Manito Park, but I remember asking to visit often. No wonder why I bought my own house it was close.

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  3. What a fabulous conservatory! It's no wonder you became a plant addict, growing up with a place like that within an easy walk from home. That long rat-tail cactus was truly impressive but then I didn't see a single specimen in your post that looked less than pristine. I'll admit to liking the orange tulip display, although the red tulips in the 11th photo did seem out of place ;)

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    1. Actually I grew up in another area entirely, some 16 miles away—the easy walk was from the home I bought when I moved back to Spokane in my 30's. Glad you agree about the red tulips!

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  4. What a beautiful plant collection and a great place to be in February!

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  5. What a gorgeous conservatory! Everything looks so spotless and well cared for. And that anthurium! When looking at the Manito Park website, I was amazed to find out that it is a free public garden - obviously those in charge see the value in funding such a place. I imagine heating the conservatory in such a cold climate does not come cheap. Lucky Spokane residents!

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    1. I should have mentioned that it is free, what a gift to the city right? And I didn't even think about the cost of heating. That's got to add up.

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  6. Breathtaking Anthurium foliage. Wowwowow. The flowering cactus, too, looking so happy and healthy. As others commented, the conservatory looks beautifully cared for--and in a free public garden, miraculously so. Tho perhaps there isn't much for staff to do outdoors when there's snow on the ground?

    Well, people do like tulips, though they seemed unnecessary among those beautiful desert and tropical plants.

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    1. That's probably true, that the staff isn't outdoors as much in the wintertime. Well, unless they're responsible for snow and ice removal. Then of course the pruning of dormant plants. Plus I think there's dedicated conservatory staff. Interesting question though!

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  7. Conservatory visits help us get through the winter! I visited my local college's one last week after two years (thanks to Covid). What a balm for the winter-weary soul. This one looks like it did the job admirably!

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    1. Guess what... we don't have a conservatory here in Portland. Isn't that a shame? That does look to be changing though, that will be part of my Friday post.

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  8. Believe it or not, I have been to that garden and conservatory twice. I always thought that conservatory was really well done for a relatively small city. The Dahlia garden there was where I was inspired to start using rebar to stake my Dahlias , and my tomatoes and anything else that needs a stake.

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    1. I am glad to hear you've visited and were impressed. I think you mentioned once you had the Davenport car take you there? I love the mental picture I get...

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    2. Yes to the Davenport car! I didn't have to pay for it , the vendor that was hosting us picked up the tab for the car , and the hotel stay.

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  9. A conservatory is a fine place to be on a cold winter day; it warms you body and soul simultaneously. Jewel orchid has such lovely foliage; often a tiny sprig comes with a substantial price tag. Do you still have that Victoria regina from 2014... a spectacular agave!

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    1. I do still have that agave! It's precious not only for being a magnificent plant, but because of where it came from.

      Back before the currently houseplant craze I scored a beautiful jewel orchid for a great price. Sadly it is not longer with me. Dead.

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  10. Oh, my goodness thank you for this post. I just love the plants. So beautifully cared for. The Leuchtenbergia principis, aka agave cactus or prism cactus must be quite old. So big. I have never heard it called "prism cactus" but makes sense, given the shape of the leaves. I had a Ludisia discolor here in Phoenix but could take the 10% humidity! I so want one.

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    1. Oops, the Ludisia could NOT take the lack of humidity!

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    2. I hadn't heard it called prism cactus either, but it's a good name. So much better than agave cactus, which is just confusing. Sorry about the Ludisia discolor. Maybe try it again as a houseplant you keep in the shower?

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  11. I have always loved cactus and succulent collections. I agree that the tulips are jarring aesthetically.

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