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...

Sawtooth Wilderness boundary Looking toward the far side of Farley Lake - the first campsite  This past weekend, I went backpacking on an iconic loop in the Sawtooth Mountains of central Idaho. The Sawtooths are beloved and renowned for their dramatic sharp, rocky peaks that resemble the teeth on a saw. I had only been to the Sawtooths once before (six years ago when I was working a seasonal position in McCall), so I was looking forward to exploring more.  I hiked the Toxaway Lake to Alice Lake Loop , and spent two nights in the backcountry. This was the perfect amount of time to spend backpacking, since it's been several years since I've hit the trail and done backcountry camping. My back and legs were achy and tired by the end of the weekend, but this trip itinerary allowed  The fire smoke that has been looming over Boise was present in Stanley (a small river town close to the Sawtooths) and the views of the mountains took on a dreamlike, mystical quality w...

Cherry tomatoes from my garden Scarlet Paintbrush ( Castilleja miniata ) View from Stack Rock Beautiful Greenbelt bridge Jeffrey's or Mountain Shooting Star ( Dodecatheon jeffreyi) It's currently July, and Boise is hot. The summer seems to be going by at a hurdling pace, but luckily I've managed to get outdoors quite a bit. Here's a few updates on life lately.   Thinking about... The ongoing pandemic, travel, how to be flexible with plans (necessary in this season of constantly changing travel restrictions, and hotspots of COVID-19 cases), how to stay in touch with friends, and the whole concept of "pause and pivot" which is related to coronavirus.  Listening to... I've been continuing to enjoy podcasts, including A Beautiful Mess Podcast , Office Ladies , and Spilled Milk . These are fun to listen to while cooking or cleaning around the house.  Cooking + eating + drinking... A great summer article is 101 Simple Salads for the Season from the New York Tim...

Glacier Lily ( Erythronium grandiflorum ) Summer is in full swing here in Idaho, and the month of July has been busy, but also full of outdoor adventures so far. I spent the Fourth of July holiday in Coeur d'Alene, and had a wonderful time exploring a different part of the state. The landscape and mountains in this area were reminiscent of my time spent in the central Idaho wilderness, and overall very different from the Boise foothills. On a hike to a beautiful alpine lake near Wallace, Idaho, I snapped some photos of many gorgeous midsummer wildflowers. Enjoy!  Yellow columbine ( Aquilegia flavescens ) Bear grass (Xerophyllum tenax) Scarlet paintbrush ( Castilleja miniata ) Thimbleberry ( Rubus parviflorus ) Beautiful mountain wildflowers and view of mountains near Wallace, Idaho

A rainbow of beautiful wildflowers above the North Fork Boise River High water on the North Fork Boise River The end of June is upon us, and I've been behind on my blog posts. I've spent so much time outside this month, which is just how I envision spending the idyllic summer time. I'm sharing photos of my June outdoor adventures here. It has been a month jam-packed with hiking, camping trips, weather of all varieties, and spending time with wonderful friends. In COVID-19 news, it appears that we took two steps forward with re-opening and one step back, as the Boise areas has regressed back to Stage 3 of the Idaho Rebound plan. I am continuing to enjoy spending lots of time outdoors, and feel lucky that my daily routine has not changed much and that my I can still pursue my hobbies and interests outdoors during this time. July is looking to be another busy and adventurous month, exactly how summer is. Summer time in Idaho is unfolding to be full of exploration, and pockets ...

Sagebrush mariposa lily ( Calochortus macrocarpus Douglas) Pale evening primrose/White-stemmed evening primrose ( Oenothera pallida ) Wand mullein ( Verbascum virgatum ) Blue Mountain Buckwheat ( Erigonum strictum )

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 )

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

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