Boise By Nature

Boise Foothills at sunrise  Reflecting back on my March goals is an exercise in realizing how much can change, and how qualities like flexibility and compassion are more important than ever in the midst of COVID-19.  Below is a description of my March goals and a few notes on how I did meeting each goal throughout the month.  1. Continue to attend my  Idaho Master Naturalist  classes.  I was able to attend one of the classes this month, but the other class was cancelled. I'm excited to get started up again with this once we can.  2. Run in the Treasure Valley YMCA's  St. Patrick's Day Run .  Unfortunately the run was also cancelled. I have been enjoying running on my own and exploring new places to run.  3. Bike Commute  at least once a week. I bike commuted a couple of times this month!  4.   Continue my monthly camping resolution . This is one of the goals that I was able to complete this month! It was lovely ...

Interpretive display near the Oregon Trail Reserve parking area  The Oregon Trail Reserve is just outside of Boise off of Highway 21, and will transport you to a time when pioneers traveled through the area with covered wagons. This reserve was created through a partnership by City of Boise, BLM, and residents of nearby Surprise Valley. The hiking trails here are perfect for a cooler or more overcast day, as all of the trail is in sagebrush area with no tree canopy for shade. Wear your sunscreen and hat, bring water, and prepare for some incredible views of basalt rock columns and the Boise River! Learn more about the Oregon Trail Reserve here  and see trail descriptions and maps here . The path of the Oregon Trail from Independence, Missouri to Boise, Idaho Gorgeous view of the Boise River looking toward Lucky Peak Dam Check out these basalt rock column formations across the river! 

Hood's Phlox Yellow Bell Sagebrush buttercups In a parallel to the Coronavirus pandemic, our March weather has been wildly unpredictable here in Idaho. We have had some beautiful sunny days which seem like signals of spring, but we've also had cooler weather and hard rainstorms. Despite the uncertain weather, I've found a few early spring wildflowers: 1. Yellow Bell, Fritillaria pudica . Bloom season: March-June. Found in open areas, in valleys, and montane forests.  2. Hood's Phlox , Phlox hoodii . Bloom season: April-June (apparently I saw an early-blooming plant!). This flower forms compact mats and grows in dry and often rocky places. Native Americans used the plant as a laxative, to relieve chest pains, and extracted a yellow dye from it.  3. Sagebrush Buttercup , Ranunculus glaberrimus . Bloom season: March-May (can be found in March in lower elevations and until May in the mountains). This is a spring gem of the Treasure Valley and prefers ...

Yellowbells (Fritillaria pudica) in SW Idaho.  Two weeks ago, I was starting the week off normally, working in the office and doing one of my regular morning exercise classes at the gym. Coronavirus was a topic of conversation, on the lips of everyone, and was a common part of conversation—what was going to happen? That conference is still going to be held this week? Wow, I’m surprised. But the virus was only whispering on the outskirts of my life, so as is human nature, I did my best to ignore it. Two weeks ago, I could waltz into the grocery store at any time of day, buy any type of butter or flour or oatmeal or Clorox wipes I wanted, engage in a friendly exchange with the cashier, and leave. I took this all for granted. My life was--and still is--supremely luxurious. I have a loving family, friends, a job, a roof over my head, splendid outdoor recreation opportunities, and the ability to pay my bills and afford a lifestyle that aligns with my values and priorities. And...

Despite the ongoing stress and uncertainty with COVID-19, getting outdoors (while practicing social distancing) is still on the good-to-good list! So I thought I'd compile a little photo journal of good places to watch the sunset. Enjoy! Walk the Greenbelt and enjoy the beautiful Boise River! Take a drive to some of the Forest Service roads in the Boise National Forest Sunset from a Military Reserve Trail The Golden Hour at the Military Reserve Camel's Back Park has incredible views! 

Spring is a great time to get out in the foothills This is a wild time in our country and all over the world as we deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. Even as a healthy, active person, I find myself anxiously following the news as our situation changes seemingly by the minute. School closings, restaurant closings, people without jobs, social distancing...the list is growing day by day. In spite of the health crisis sweeping our world, I think it's important to choose how we as individuals react. We should choose to follow CDC and World Health Organization guidelines, limit close contact, and most importantly, frequently disinfect surfaces and wash our hands. I have heard people in my age group express the thought that we are overreacting to this virus, but the most important thing to remember as a healthy young person is, it's not about you. Young people with healthy immune systems may not be concerned, but their actions can impact elderly or immuno-compromised people. I t...

Although the mornings are still quite chilly, spring is in the air, which means it's time to break out your bike and start bike commuting! To me, biking to work basically fulfills the trifecta of exercising, saving gas and money, and spending time outdoors getting fresh air. I have often thought that using a bike as a means of transportation can be viewed as a solution to so many of our society's challenges: obesity, climate change, and financial debt.  It's important to learn the rules of the road before biking along with car traffic. Check out the City of Boise's bike safety tips . Make sure you are very visible, through bright and reflective clothing and bike lights. I also recommend looking at Google Maps  and putting into your location and destination to get directions. You can change the directions to "Cycling" mode by clicking the bike emblem at the top of the map. It's also important to do a trial run of your bike route. Drive the route and s...

A cloudy day south of Boise Although we are fortunate to have mostly sunny days here in the Treasure Valley, the winter and spring seasons can have some clouds and rain. This weekend is calling for scattered showers and thunderstorms, which seems fitting since we are in March, the month that comes "in like a lion and out like a lamb", as the saying goes. So it's time to get a bit creative and think about some rainy day activities!  Here's a list of activities that would be great to try out on a rainy day: The Idaho State Museum has fascinating exhibits which are informative and interactive for many different ages.  I absolutely love the Boise Public Library system at any time, but when better than a rainy day to find a good book? Check out the library's events calendar for all types of events, including story times, 3D printing appointments, technology assistance, lectures, yoga, and more!  Try a local coffee shop! Check out this list for coffee sh...

Sagebrush buttercups this week in the Boise foothills - a beautiful harbinger of spring! Something my Master Naturalist class recently covered is nature journaling. I have been a very sporadic journal-keeper, but really do treasure memories I've documented through a journal--summers of field work, travel experiences, and new nature discoveries. Here are a few notes I have from the Master Naturalist class on nature journaling: Check out John Muir Laws' website on nature journaling.  This is a wonderful resource with tons of information on how to get started with nature journaling. You can even search for a nature journal club near your area, or start one of your own! 1. Why keep a nature journal? Document observations and changes Keep a life list (life birding list or plant list, etc) Strengthen focus and observation skills Record time outdoors Explore a specific topic, theme, or idea Build new neural pathways 2. Nature Journal Techniques: nature journals t...

Out on the trails at Eagle Island State Park  Yesterday I had some free time on a Sunday, which felt sacred. Have you noticed different times in your life where time seems to slip through your fingers, or move like a snail? It's interesting to experience both of these feelings as they alternate day to day, or stretch over longer periods of life. Anyway, yesterday's open schedule felt lovely, and I decided to venture to nearby Eagle Island State Park. I have the $10/year Idaho State Parks Passport , which is not only a great deal, but easy to purchase at the time of DMV vehicle registration, and a good way to support Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation. Eagle Island State Park is one of the parks with the Idaho State Parks system, and it is easily accessible from the Boise area. I consider it more of a "developed" state park, with a disc golf course, waterslide, volleyball courts, volleyball courts, and a lake for non-motorized boating, swimming, and fishin...

Happy Trails Pledge from ridgetorivers.org Ridge to Rivers is a partnership between City of Boise, the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Four Rivers Field Office, the Boise National Forest, Ada County, and Idaho Department of Fish and Game. These agencies work together to manage the incredible trail system of the Boise foothills that we are so lucky to have in our backyard! One initiative that Ridge to Rivers has started is to take the Happy Trails Pledge . This pledge consists of agreeing to be a mindful and respectful trail user. The Ridge to Rivers website has a wealth of information on trail conditions (including a daily trail report and update on their home page), trails for different types of use, trail etiquette, and maps.  One of the aspects of life in Boise I love most is our city's access to trails and outdoor recreation opportunities. This is an outdoor-centered town, and so many people are out on the trails running, hiking, mountain biking, and ...

IMN Program Description and Syllabus! Since I will be writing about my journey through the Idaho Master Naturalist Program , I wanted to share some nuts and bolts on the program.  Here is the rundown: There are currently nine chapters of the program throughout the state in the following locations: City of Trees , Boise Deer Flat Chapter , Nampa Henry's Fork Chapter , Island Park High Desert Chapter , Pocatello Lewis Clark Chapter , Lewiston McCall Heartland Chapter , McCall Pend Oreille Chapter , Sandpoint Sagebrush-Steppe Chapter , Boise Upper Snake Chapter , Idaho Falls To become an Idaho Master Naturalist, you must complete a 40 hour educational class (offered by each chapter) about Idaho's natural world. After completing the class, Master Naturalists volunteer 40 hours of service per year to various environmental projects that are listed and offered by each chapter. Projects can range from assisting with restoration work and tree planting to v...

Logo from: idfg.idaho.gov This past week, I started the Idaho Master Naturalist program! This is a program that is very near and dear to my heart, and is a shining example of meaningful partnerships, collaboration, and citizen science. When I lived in Missouri, I completed the Missouri Master Naturalist Program, and found every class to be fascinating. The method of breaking natural history into specific lessons--like geology, birds, plants, and agriculture--gave me a deeper understanding of the natural world around me, which, in turn, gave me stronger ties to my community and a better sense of place.  I'm looking forward to documenting all that I learn throughout my Idaho Master Naturalist class, which will run from February through October 2020, with semimonthly classes and additional community service hour requirements.  Here are a few tidbits I learned from the first class, which was an introduction and orientation to the Idaho Master Naturalist Program: T...

Happy March! March always seems to be a transitional month between winter and spring, and feels like a great time to embrace goals as the new season unfolds. I love setting "micro" goals that can be contained within a month because I find it more approachable than vague, overarching goals that can stretch out for long periods of time with unclear steps to completion or accomplishment.  Last year, I embraced several monthly goals, and one of my favorites was taking one photo each day. These photos weren't staged or perfect; they were simply a snapshot into my life at the time. I found myself noticing and appreciating smaller things each day as I remembered my photography goal. Looking back at the photos I took over the month really made me happy for all of the positive things in my life. I would like continue to set micro monthly goals as I think of them! Here are my March goals: 1. Continue to attend my Idaho Master Naturalist classes. These classes started in Feb...

Making good on the resolution in January in Big Sur, CA Back in January, I didn't really know what to do about a New Year's resolution. I am usually in the camp of having at least one or two resolutions related to a healthy lifestyle, but this year I moved on New Year's Eve and knew my time for the next few months would be more limited as I got settled in my new space, so I wanted to aim more for fun goals with the underlying idea that the goal should help me discover more places in Idaho. Camping has always felt like my "reset" button that slows down my thoughts and really re-centers me. I love spending time setting up camp, enjoying nearby hikes, and sharing time outdoors with family and friends. I made it my resolution this year to camp at least once a month. Hopefully as we approach the warmer months this may increase to 2+ times per month, but at least I can work towards my monthly resolution! January: Kirk Creek Campground, Big Sur, CA. This was a...