Luxor4u

Went to Pt. Defiance Park - gorgeous gardens there with several theme'd areas. Part of this are is 'experimental' gardening under the auspice of a University. Very beautiful and relaxing walk and terrific for photography!















Not necessarily a 'bed of roses' but.......

Some great pictures there LLL We have a similar Chinese themed garden near to us, you should have told us a little bit about the place

Yesssssssss duh - I should have given a bit of a history of this park......

This land this park occupies was originally set aside by President Andrew Johnson as a military reservation. There is still a wooden Fort on part of this 702 acre area. In the late 1800's President Grover Cleveland gave it to Tacoma to use as a public park which includes beach front as well as heavily wooded forest. After this land was given to the city and made into a park visitors started coming in droves particularly to the waterfront where heated "saltwater baths" were operated.

As much of this area was beachfront it was natural that a focus on marine life started and a public aquarium was built to capitalize on the hot saltwater baths. In the late 1980ies the city built a Marina in this area.

The Lodge (picture 1) was built in the late 1800's is the oldest standing building in the park. Today it is used to host weddings and receptions but was formerly used as the Park Superintendents private home.

In the Asian section of the park the Pagoda was originally designated as a streetcar station, then later became a bus station and then an area for formal gatherings.

Today this park is open daily dawn to dusk and hosts many festivals. A zoo and aquarium are also part of this park.

Thanks for that the pictures are a lot better when accompanied by your potted history of the place

LL the pictures are great , I wish I had a garden like that near by to visit without having to travel further afield.

I like the "flower bed" picture 8

I like the "flower bed" picture 8