Idaho Botanical Garden

The Idaho Botanical Garden is a gem in Boise. There is so much to do and see here that I think you could literally spend a lifetime learning here.
One of my favorite thing about the garden is not only the natural beauty but the classes. I’ve taken gardening classes here, wild plants of Idaho classes here and eating off the land classes.
As a family, our favorite thing without question is the Garden Aglow at Christmas. The lights, the people, and the music make the season perfect. It just wouldn’t be the holiday season without going to Garden Aglow.
Whether you are five or ninety there is something to do for you at the garden!

This review is for the IBG’s Movies in the Park! The Idaho Botanical Gardens show movies every other Friday from July through September. They show classics, cult classics, family films, new releases, and big blockbuster hits.
The scene in the park is really neat. The Idaho Botanical Gardens are nestled right along the Boise Foothills at the old Idaho Penitentiary so it’s very picturesque. There are a bunch of people who sprawl out on blankets, relax in (low) lawn chairs, and sit under the stars for a movie.
The Gardens open at 7 so you can come as early as you’d like, and when we showed up there were kids playing in the grassy fields, a bunch of people tossing a football, and tons of people sipping beverages and relaxing as the sun went down. We grabbed caesar salads, cookies and Milk Duds from the local caterer, but you can also bring any kind of food and beverage you like – they call it «picnic style.»
Movies began promptly at dusk!

I really enjoyed strolling through the gardens today, the scarecrows were cute. I liked the fire garden display, wilderness trail and diversity within the different areas. The quail were fun to watch too.

Interesting show tonight, and I’m thankful for the effort to bring good musicians here, but horrible execution. Far too few restrooms, poorly trained and rude staff, and lots of beer tents make really uncomfortable concert goers.
Too few food trucks, too few honey buckets, and lame staff ruined it.

This is an oasis in the middle of Boise, yes it’s not as large and impressive as the gardens in other cities. But in the valley of Boise, this is a welcomed pocket of peace. If you can not able to get out of the county to see the peace and beauty of the Idaho countryside. Come to the garden, Sit down, listen to the fountains and the wind through the leaves.

The gardens, located next to the Old Idaho State Penitentiary, are an Idaho gem.
The garden was established in 1984 and operates without government funding. There are several themed gardens, including an Idaho native garden, a rose garden, English garden and even one featuring plants matching those collected by the Lewis and Clark expedition between Great Falls, Montana, and The Dalles, Ore.
Other highlights include a garden comprised of plants that don’t require a lot of water and a firewise garden of plants meant to increase the safety around homes in areas prone to wildfires.
Around the holidays, the Winter Garden aGlow attracts thousands of visitors nightly for a lighted display.
Buy a household membership for $ 30 during August and save 50 percent on the regular price. Get $ 1 off each admission with a AAA card.

An old guard tower from the abandoned State Penitentiary caught my eye as I admired a sculpture in the Idaho Botanical Garden. It took me back for a moment, to think of people once incarcerated at this spot where I was enjoying the freedom to roam a beautiful place created among stark surrounds. My husband and I went in for what we thought might be an hour visit and ended up enjoying more than two hours with so much to see. With a modest entry fee, multiple garden themes and good accessibility this is recommended for Boise visitors of all ages for however much or little time you choose to spend. A tip if you’re there in warm months, as we were, take sun protection and water!
ENTRY
You enter the garden site from the grounds of the old penitentiary. (Also open for visiting.) We were confused about how to get into the garden itself, so offer this heads up: turn right at the small garden administration building and you’ll see a kiosk to pay your admission ($ 5 for adult) fee to the garden then continue driving up until you get to the gravel lot just outside the garden’s entry.
LAYOUT
The garden is on 33 acres leased from State with about 15 acres developed into roughly 15 different themed areas that rise in elevation from lower to middle and upper gardens demonstrating four habitats. As examples: on the lower (entry level) you’ll find English and Rose gardens, then rising up through areas like Herb and Meditation and Children’s gardens and on up to Lewis and Clark Native gardens. The latter, installed in 2006 I learned, was my favorite with the chirping sounds of big covey of quail running through the plantings, a round house structure with a plant roof and at the highest point a great view out over the old Penitentiary and towards the city.
SCULPTURES & ART
Recycled material sculptures, bronze sculptures and other art installations are throughout the garden created an outdoor gallery of sorts among the plantings.
PATHWAYS
Slopes can be steep in some places given the natural elevation of the site but the folks who designed the garden have done a good job of leveling out the cross slopes of the pathways so people pushing strollers or using wheelchairs should find them navigable. Surfacing of most, but not all, of the garden is firm and stable and installed it seems with the idea of being appropriate to the theme of that particular garden area. As examples: cobblestone pavers in the English Garden, brick pavers in the Rose Garden outlook, hard pack dirt surfaces on some other trails and so on. The most accessible surfacing is at the higher elevation gardens with broom swept cement. The flaws for accessible connectivity include the grassy meditation garden, some rough patches of gravel covered pathways between areas and that the parking lot is loose gravel to be navigated before getting to the firm surfacing at the entry. (Anyone who has pushed a stroller across deep grass or loose gravel knows why that doesnt’ work for a wheelchair or crutches either.)
UNIQUE TREEHOUSE
«Woohoo worthy» is a treehouse that seems to have been recently installed at the Children’s Garden. That treehouse is set up in universal access design that allows children using wheelchairs to have level in access from a pathway and participate along with all others. Very nice. Having seen children with disabilities being left on the sidelines again and again, this was a delightful element. Of course, this works too for children beng pushed in strollers. And PS — for parents using wheelchairs, as in my acquaintance whose legs were severed in Iraq, it is equally cool for him to be able to join his toddler son there as all other dads might do. Everyone wins.
SEASONAL EVENTS
SUMMER: Hosts occasional public concerts about which we heard a lot of kudos from locals. Also other monthly events (like cooking and food showcase) that are public.
WINTER: Lit for the season with thousands of lights in «Garden Glow» which starts on Thanksgiving Day and runs through January 5. Santa themed elements are included for kids and kids at heart. Glow event is evenings only, roughly 6p — 9p. (Higher entry fee may apply? Check with the garden.) Open Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Day, New Years’ Eve and Day.
THIS N THAT:
1) SWEAT & FUNDING: Land is leased by a private non profit from the State of Idaho and is funded by donations and entry fees; receives no government funding. The gardens, all designed and cultivated since 1981, are lovingly maintained by staff and volunteers.
2) HOURS VARY WITH SEASON: March — November: 7 days a week roughly 9a to 9p (or dusk whichever is sooner). Check garden site for winter hours.
3) FREE ENTRY MORNING STROLL: During some months there are no entry fees from 7:30a — 9:00a. Can’t think of a more beautiful time of day to visit this peaceful place.
4) PETS: None allowed.

If you like flowers this is the place to go!

Good things: FREE parking CLOSE, beautiful (what botanic gardens isn’t?!), hillside behind gardens baby, good sound.
Bad things: $ 22 fees on a $ 35 ticket… yikes. What the ruck (go rugby) is with the 10pm curfew?! I did not ‘small print read’ the website or my ticket, but 10pm is Busch League. Some blame on the band for not managing time (ie set break too long), but 10pm is bull-​honky. I expect an encore… sorry, I’m an enthusiast. Beware this curfew; it caught me off guard, and others too. Otherwise, enjoyable.

Beautifully crafted and maintained gardens in the high desert. Add Idaho Botanical Garden to your must visit list of large gardens.

Beautiful gardens and modest admission price. A lot of new stuff going in in 2012 which will make it even better.

The Idaho Botanical Garden & Idaho Penitentiary are on the same grounds & are both very nice. We’ve been to many events & concerts here and it’s just a wonderful place.
This summer, my wife & I have been to several concerts and the grounds are ideal for large concerts since the weather here is so mild and the views are so good. The grounds have hills on 2 sides and if you don’t feel like going to the concert & mingling with the large crowds, you can join the hundred or so people who sit in the foot hills and, although you can’t see the performers, you can enjoy the music fairly well. If you go to a concert, please know that only low back chairs are allowed. Food trucks and beer & wine are available on site during concerts.
In the winter, if you’ve never been, this is a great place to visit during Winter Aglo (?) and it’s always a good place to visit to just relax and walk around. It’s a great sanctuary.

I like the Idaho Botanical Gardens! We usually go once a quarter for each season of the year. We’ve gone so often, that I think we’ll just buy a membership. In the winter time, they have the garden lit up with holiday lights.

Although nothing was in bloom when I went in the beginning of April, I could still appreciate the beauty of the place & imagine how it’d be when in season. Cute area for kids, about to be interactive. A meditation area, an English rose garden… various places to admire nature’s beauty.
Try mastering the labyrinth… fun and frustrating all at the same time!
Use your AAA card for $ 1 off admission

Now. this is how family entertainment places should do Christmas light displays. This Botanical Garden is hugeeeeeeeeeeee and every single tree has a Christmas light on it. The price of admission is $ 8 per adult & $ 4 per child. At first I thought it was a little steep, but when we got in, we realized we could spent hours at this place.
The Christmas lights display is only happening during holiday season and only from 6pm-​9pm. Parking can be an issue, but don’t worry they have designated parking areas outside the Garden for free. You might need to walk a little bit, but it’s worth it.
Don’t forget to bundle up! It’s cold in Boise during winter season.

Winter Gardens aGlow
I went with my kids to the Botanical Gardens over Thanksgiving weekend to see the lights and was so impressed!
While it’s a little pricey ($ 8 per adult and $ 4 for kids), they do have an amazing display spanning the entire garden, with intricate lights – some of them in the shape of blossoms and leaves; it was truly breathtaking. And while it was very cold outside, there are fire barrels scattered throughout the garden, enabling you to stop and warm yourself before moving on.
There’s no rhyme or reason to how you should walk through the garden, and I like the idea of being able to wonder at will in order to experience the lights as you so chose, but I can see how that might be frustrating to some who want to ensure they see everything.
My kids’ favorite part was probably the miniature trains which circle one section of the garden. There are probably about 3 train sets that circulate, each with uniquely lit displays.
The Botanical Gardens provide complementary hot cocoa, cider and cookies. But be warned – you must leave the garden by 9:30, and if you come to the Folly late (the tent supplying the complementary refreshments), you’ll miss out (sadly, we did). They also have different vendors selling refreshments as well, if you’re interested.
The only thing I missed was the Christmas music; it plays at the gift shop but is difficult to hear unless you’re close to it (a nice marketing tactic, but it diminishes the overall experience).
We loved it, and if we’re ever in Boise over the holidays again, we’ll definitely revisit the Winter Gardens aGlow!

This is a WONDERFUL botanical garden. Boise is VERY lucky to have this facility and the people who are supporting it are to be thanked and appreciated. Go to this garden again and again to se various things in bloom! If I lived in Boise I know I would be a supporting member to get an annual pass. They are making new exhibits that will only make this place better!
PS Also note they have concerts here as well!

Don’t miss the Holiday light display at the Gardens. May be the largest light display in Idaho! Tastefully done. Warming stations throughout the park, music playing, gift shop. Can’t wait to see the gardens in the summertime. The Lewis & Clark plants area is so beautiful at the highest point of the gardens with a fantastic larger than life-​size sculpture of Sacajewa. Great interpretive displays, contemplative alcoves & overlooks. Well worth the $ 8 admission.

A wonderful respite in a busy city. Small but pleasing. Beautiful gardens to walk through. Great trees with a lot of shade with beautiful water features throughout. You can see guard towers of prison next door. Cool. Children’s garden a work in progress. Tour was good.

If you enjoy different types of foilage/​plants and water gardens, this is a place to visit! Quite a bit of walking outdoors at own leisure, but very informative. Plants have signs of description. Different types of terrain. Bring a snack and drinks!