Boise By Nature

Such an icon of summer The other day I was using the Boise Public Library's curbside pickup service (since the library isn't open yet), and I ventured over to neighboring Julia Davis Park. I was delighted to see an explosion of colors and fragrances from the Rose Garden, which is in its blooming prime at the moment. Enjoy these photos and learn more about the history of the Rose Garden here . 

Driving tour of Birds of Prey National Conservation Area - click here to see the brochure and map A couple of weeks ago, I took a driving tour of the Birds of Prey National Conservation Area. The driving route outlines some notable geographic features of the area, as well as bringing birds to great spots above the Snake River for catching glimpses of birds of prey. Read more about the history of this unique area here .  View of Initial Point Snake River at Celebration Park Helpful bird identification sign at Dedication Point This sign at the Kuna Visitors Center has great ideas for stops along the Western Heritage Historic Byway View from Dedication Point

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 )

Map of the Boise Driving Tour to go along with this guide. Find the map here . We're all still under the statewide Stay at Home order here in Idaho, but many of us are itching to get out and enjoy the beautiful spring weather we've been having. Luckily, outdoor recreation is still permissible and encouraged, as long as social distancing guidelines are followed.  Another great way to shake things up and enjoy the beauty of this time to year is to take a scenic drive around Boise. I put together a guide of some significant parts of Boise  Here is a map with directions between each stop on the driving tour: Boise Driving Tour Map 1. Start at the  Idaho State Capitol Building in downtown Boise. Did you know it's the only capitol building in the U.S. that is heated with geothermal water?   check out this online tour of the Capitol and this fact page on the Capitol .  2. Cruise through downtown and stretch your legs at Freak Alley Gallery ,  an a...