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 ...

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

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! 

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

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