In springtime, a floral aroma fills the air of the Idaho Botanical Garden, enticing the senses as colorful, fragrant blossoms enrapture both bees and humans alike. The heat of summer crosses the Boise foothills and the gardens fill with late-blooming flowers and the sounds of their annual concert series. With blankets and baskets in tow, dozens flock to the Great Garden Escape. Laughter and music dance across the east side of the Valley. Thousands more gather in the Outlaw Field to see headlining acts like Modest Mouse, Norah Jones, and the Violent Femmes. Summer gives way to fall, and trees erupt in breathtaking reds, yellows, and oranges—a gentle reminder to let go of what no longer serves. And finally, winter’s brisk air overtakes the Idaho Botanical Gardens (IBG). Snow blankets the flowers and foliage but what is left is not just a snowy expanse but one of their most popular attractions: the Winter Garden aGlow. And glow it does!
Executive Director, Erin Anderson, has found a longstanding passion in Idaho’s environment and sharing its bounty through education and experience, so her path to the Botanical Garden was a natural fit. Beyond her background working in environmental education and with other garden-based organizations, time spent gardening with her two young daughters inspired an additional interest in local food and supporting Idaho agriculture.
“Living in Idaho, surrounded by neighbors and friends who cherish conservation and the outdoors, I've found it essential to help others appreciate the value of our environment and land,” shared Anderson. “Access to nature links people of all ages with Idaho’s plants and ecosystems, fostering enriching experiences that inspire future generations of environmental advocates, conservationists, and lifelong learners. Most importantly, having access to beautiful outdoor spaces brings happiness.”
The Garden was established in 1984 on a 42-acre site leased from the Idaho State Historical Society. These grounds were formerly used for the old prison system but had since sat vacant—land with endless potential. For the last forty years, IBG has been a community hub, a gathering place, a space for education and conservation, but Anderson and her team have even larger aspirations.
In the early stages of a vast capital fundraising campaign, Anderson seeks to utilize more of the acreage currently leased from the State. Her vision is lofty and inspiring. The $15 million dollar campaign plans to add a large education-based visitor center, accessible walkways, 4.6 acres of new garden area (including an outdoor kitchen, arboretum, and Horticultural Therapy space), and “an indoor gathering space and all-season market pavilion to connect homes across the Valley with access to local produce and provide year-round gathering opportunities.”
The passion in her words emanates as fragrantly as the Garden’s springtime blossoms as she shared, “Together with Boise Farmers Market and City of Good, we are raising funds to build a year-round farmers market, food hub, and vegetable garden. These opportunities will increase our capacity to donate fresh vegetables to people in our community. Through our unique partnership, this project will provide an all-season farmers market space, and a food distribution center for families experiencing food insecurity. This shared space will connect low-income households across the Valley with access to fresh local produce and provide permanent space for the Market and expanded educational programming for the community and farmers.”
As the cost of living in Idaho continues to rise, more and more families are finding it difficult to keep up with the essentials. By combining the resources of local farmers, the passion of the Idaho Botanical Garden, and the benevolence of our Idaho community, together we can help ease the strain many of us are feeling. All the while enjoying the bounty of the Gem State and fostering our community-focused growth.
This shared space will connect low-income households across the Valley with access to fresh local produce