Boise By Nature

 A couple of weeks ago, I went to Idaho Department of Fish & Game's Centennial Marsh Wildlife Management Area, which is located in Camas County, just under two hours from Boise. After turning onto Highway 20 in Mountain Home, it is an absolutely beautiful drive, complete with mountain views, and just that particular sense of peace that driving in the country that soothes and nourishes the soul.  View of the mountains from Centennial Marsh The camas bulb is an important food source for Native Americans This area is a wonderful destination for bird watchers! The camas flower  ( Camassia quamash ) that can be found at Centennial Marsh was fairly sparse, but I still found a few blooms along the main road. The typical blooming period for this area is late May to early June, so I think I was a bit early. The light, delicate blue color of the flowers was a delight to see.  Camas blooming with snow-capped mountains in the distance Close up of the periwinkle-colored Camas...

Sagebrush Buttercup in March Aase's Onion in late March Happy April! The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, the evenings feel longer with so much light, and spring is here. I love every season, but there is something so special about seeing all aspects of nature wake up and grow. My favorite part of spring is spending more time outside and being a witness to wildflowers blooming throughout the season. Every wildflower seems like a special discovery to me, because some of they bloom for such a short period of time, or are a rare species that only grow in specific areas. I love seeking out wildflowers on spring bike rides and hikes. If you want to welcome spring in your area, I encourage you to take a walk and look for wildflowers. Take photos of the flowers and identify them with field guides or websites at home!  Check out the  Treasures of the Boise Front  website for photo galleries of different wildflowers, wildflower walk destinations, and species lists of wildfl...

  March sunrise in the foothills Happy March! It feels like spring could be right around the corner, and with the change in seasons, I feel a burst of energy. I have been reflecting on the past year, and all of the challenges and silver linings that have come along with a year of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is mind boggling to think about a year ago, when I was aware of coronavirus, but also so naive in the fact that our daily lives would be turned upside down, routines upended, and our. It feels so hopeful to be going into the spring with three approved vaccines, with lighter days, and with the promise of a new season of growth.  With the spring sunshine, it's the perfect time to start getting back out on the trails in the foothills again. I had a wonderful winter of cross-country skiing, which I've always loved, but this year, being out on snowy trails in the peaceful woods was such a perfect antidote to lots of time indoors working on the computer. I'm starting to turn my ...

Amazing view from the condo Bogus Basin is one of the many gems of Treasure Valley: close to Boise, affordable (it is a non-profit organization!), and offers many different options for winter recreation. Bogus is basically the go-to winter destination for close-to-home winter downhill and Nordic skiing, snow tubing, and snowshoe hiking.  Even though this winter recreation area is only about an hour's drive from Boise, it can also be a great location for a quick weekend winter getaway. Bogus Basin has a number of condos  for rent through Vacasa or VRBO. The Pioneer Condos are on top of the mountain close to Pioneer Lodge. These condos offer Wi-Fi, ski-in/ski-out location (you can see people skiing about 10 feet from the condo!), and luxurious hot tubs to relax after a long day of skiing.   Although Bogus Basin is primarily known for its incredible winter activities, the area boasts lots of mountain biking and hiking trails to be enjoyed in the warmer months. There a...

Beautiful winter view from the yurt Christmas sunrise! Along with backpacks, we used a pulk sled to carry our food and gear to the yurt   Snowshoes on the porch - can't beat the view Rocky Ridge yurt is perched on a ridgeline with scenic mountain views in the Idaho backcountry Winter wonderland  For many people, this past holiday season was unusual: trying to limit gatherings and social interactions is the opposite of many holiday traditions of family meals, travel, and Christmas parties. I was lucky enough to have my parents come to Idaho, and we embarked on a Christmas adventure that was one for the books: we reserved an Idaho City backcountry yurt, and spent two nights in a winter wonderland. There are six different yurts in the Idaho City, all accessible at different Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation Park n' Ski areas . Last winter, I stayed at the Skyline Yurt  with a few friends and had a wonderful time. All of these yurts are located in the Boise National Fo...

Having a dog by your side as an adventure buddy is so much fun, and since I became a dog owner, I have been able to explore so many different areas in and around Boise with my furry companion. I put together some photos with ideas of many places in Boise, and beyond, that are great destinations for you and your dog to check out. Be sure to follow all seven of the Leave No Trace principles , especially Plan Ahead & Prepare, Dispose of Waste Properly, and Be Considerate of Other Visitors.  Take your dog to one of the Park and Ski areas in the Idaho City areas for great year-round trails to explore and vistas to enjoy Does your dog love hiking? Consider taking them on a backpacking trip in the Sawtooth Wilderness. Barber Park along the Boise River is full of nature trails (leashes required) and opportunities for wading and swimming for your pet Mahalo Trail off Bogus Basin Road does have quite a few mountain bikers, but in cold or rainy weather, is a less busy option than some of...

Using watercolor during one of the last classes This autumn, I took a Fall Botanical drawing class through the City of Boise Parks & Recreation Department. The class was held once a week during September and October, and I think it slipped in during the perfect time period because now we're more hunkered down for the winter and a rise in COVID-19 infections.  We started off drawing just in pencil without any color. The instructor went over shading techniques, the steps to drawing (starting from a general shape and adding detail), and how to show light that is hitting your subject.  Over the weeks, we used colored pencil to bring vibrancy to our drawings, and then experimented with watercolor. I enjoyed the "burnishing" technique of colored pencils, which is going over a completed drawing with a white colored pencil to add shine and light. Watercolor was less precise, and I liked blending the paints into each other in a medium that seemed more forgiving.  Overall, the ...