Boise By Nature

I normally write about wildflowers, but I have noticed so many spectacular spring flowers around Boise in the past couple of weeks that I wanted to highlight some photos of flower gardens. In particular, the irises that I have seen have been simply sublime - the richest of colors and so exquisite in their detail and beauty. Boise residents are growing such beautiful irises, so enjoy these photos! 

Do some research before hitting the trail The Boise area has so many wonderful trails and hiking opportunities, and the best way to enjoy these places is to be prepared. I want to share a few map and online resources for looking at hikes.  SummitPost.org  describes different hikes, has helpful reviews of trails, and trailhead information.  AllTrails.com  also has helpful reviews, maps, and information.  I'd recommend purchasing a Boise National Forest map , which you can do online or check out the online maps that are available.  Ridge to Rivers has a great interactive map  on their website and you can also find places around Boise to buy the paper version of the map here .  Want to hike the Boise Grand Slam Peaks? Check out this great blog post on Stueby's Outdoor Journal.  I will be writing about things to bring along in your backpack for a day hike, so stay tuned!  Bring your own maps -- trailhead signs don't always have a lot of information!

Map of the Boise River Greenbelt Cultivated flax ( Linum usitatissimum ) The Boise River Greenbelt  is a well-loved and popular pedestrian and biker thoroughfare along the Boise River. Bordering the Boise River, the 25-mile greenbelt provides Boise residents with a means of transportation, recreation, and exposure to nature within the city limits. I have seen a few different flowers blooming along the trail that I want to share.  Yellow salsify ( Tragopogon dubius ) Western yarrow ( Achillea millefolium var. occidentalis )

White mariposa lily/Star tulip ( Calochortus eurycarpus ) Mount Heinen is one of the four Boise Grand Slam peaks, and is located along the North Fork Boise River Road. There are several different hiking routes to the top, and the South Ridge route is about 9 miles round trip. There are a great number of wildflower species growing here, including several that I have not yet seen around Boise this year. Enjoy the photos!  Read more about the trails to Mount Heinen here .  Scarlet gilia ( Ipomopsis aggregata ) Rocky Mountain Paintbrush ( Castilleja covilleana ) View of Rocky Mountain Paintbrush adorning the beautiful hillsides Flowers up close and ridgelines as far as the eye can see

Today I wanted to share a little piece of writing from a few months ago. The magical Yuba River in the Sierra Nevada Foothills Where Will I Move Next? Look at the UHaul Truck.  When I was 22 and 23, I lived in what is known as “Gold Country” in California, a region that seemed unique due to its location in the Sierra Nevada Foothills. California’s diversity in relation to elevation gradient shocked me--I could drive one hour over Donner Pass to Lake Tahoe and spend the day waist deep in powdery snow, ideal for snowshoes or Nordic skis, and the next day, drive an hour toward the Central Valley and hike with a t-shirt in intense sunlight, gazing at waterfalls roaring with the snowmelt from higher grounds. I was doing AmeriCorps, a national service program, and I spent a year working for a national river nonprofit group, exploring Sierra Nevada meadows for field work and spending all of my free time with the other AmeriCorps members, gallivanting around the Sierra. I often biked to work,

View of the mountains from Adelmann Mine trail Adelmann Mine Trail is about 15 miles outside of Boise and offers a moderate uphill climb to an abandoned mine. This time of year, the hillsides are a lush green and sprinkled with wildflowers, so it's a great time to hike it. There is no shade or tree cover, so plan accordingly to bring plenty of water. This 4.7 mile hikes is doable in the evenings, so consider going early in the morning or later in the evening to find more parking spaces and for cooler temperatures.  Wildflowers abound on this trail and I have included some photos here. I also saw a rancher herding sheep on the hillsides and saw a marmot in the rocky areas near the mine!  Learn more about the BLM's Abandoned Mine Program here .  View from the abandoned mine Wild hyacinth/Douglas's brodiaea ( Triteleia grandiflora ) Sticky geranium ( Geranium viscosissimum ) Payette penstemon ( Penstemon payettensis )

Lupine Lucky Peak is a trail that starts in town in Boise, but quickly climbs up through the foothills and exposes you to wonderful views of the Treasure Valley. This time of year, you will also be treated to wonderful hillsides of showy wildflowers that make the foothills look painted with colors. I'd recommend starting the hike as early in the morning as possible as there is no shade on this trail. Bring plenty of water and wear a hat and sun-protective clothing. This is one of the Boise Grand Slam Peaks and is very accessible from Boise.  Ballhead waterleaf ( Hydrophyllum capitatum ) Small Flower (or False) Forget-Me-Not ( Hackelia micrantha ) View from the top of Lucky Peak

View of the Dunes Lake A couple of months ago, I went camping at Bruneau Dunes State Park . Only about an hour drive from Boise, this park is great for a day trip. Right now, the park is currently only open for day use and campgrounds there will remain closed at least through May. Check the park's latest updates on their home page for alerts related to COVID-19, and consider visiting on a day trip during the week days when it is less busy. Bruneau Dunes has the tallest single-structured sand dune in North America at 470 feet. Outdoor recreation activities abound at Bruneau Dunes, and you can fish in one of the several lakes, hike the dunes, rent a sandboard, or visit the observatory to see a beautiful night sky through a telescope.  Sunrise near the Bruneau Dunes Equestrian Campground Climbing the dunes--get ready for a workout! Yellowbell wildflower found in mid-March at Bruneau

This past weekend, I hiked Cervidae Peak and was treated to some of the most spectacular views of mountains, water, and wildflowers that I've seen so far in Boise! I found a number of great wildflowers that I wanted to share. Spring is in full swing and every week is bringing new wildflower blooms, so get out there and see what you can find! Gorgeous views on the trail to Cervidae Peak Longspur ("Polychrome") lupine ( Lupinus arbustus ) Arrowleaf balsamroot ( Balsamorhiza sagittata ) Northern yellow crazyweed ( Oxytropis campestris )   Foothill death camas ( Toxicoscordion paniculatum ) View from the top of Cervidae Peak

I wanted to share a few wildflowers from late April, even though it's May. These flowers are all from Mt. Kepros, a great trail about 30 minutes from Boise. Learn more about Mt. Kepros here .  Cusick’s Primrose (Primula cusickiana) Longleaf Phlox ( Phlox longifolia ) Upland larkspur (Delphinium nuttallianum) Columbia puccoon (Lithosperm ruderale)

May calendar page from Maia Hausler Art Happy May! I think May always seems like a month where spring is in full bloom and people and nature are reinvigorated. My goals for the month are fairly vague and general since things are still uncertain on how we will be returning to a new normal after COVID-19, but it feels good to be able to plan a few things and look forward to the month.  My goals for May: 1. Run a 5K virtual "race".   2. Continue to hike some of the Boise Grand Slam Peaks. This is a series of hikes  that are close to Boise, so it will be fun to continue checking them off my list.   3. See lupine in bloom. Can't wait for this!  4. Camp once this month.  Here's to a resplendent May!  Good motto for May -- "It's going to be okay." We will get through quarantine!