Discover why flower fans flock to Spokane. Published on April 27, 2026 Credit: Sandra Hosking/Getty Images When spring arrives in the U.S., some blooms seem to get all the attention—we're looking at you, Washington, D.C., cherry blossoms. But there are plenty of other places around the country where you can see spectacular seasonal flora. Earning the nickname "Lilac City," Spokane, Washington, is a prime example.  The common lilac traveled by boat from Europe to America sometime in the mid-1700s. It was likely planted first in New Hampshire before debuting in gardens around the U.S. over the next century. It finally landed in Spokane in 1906. That's when one of the city's early builders, J. J. Browne, planted two lilac bushes at W. 2226 Second Avenue, according to the City of Spokane . Six years later, horticulturist John Duncan obtained 128 lilac cultivars (i.e., named lilac varieties) from Rochester, New York, and began planting what would be the Lilac Garden in Manito Park.…