Boise By Nature

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 )

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! 

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 in...

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 )