Idaho Botanical Garden – 25th Anniversary Celebration

Where can you take in amazing concerts, take part in outdoor science projects, and stroll 30 acres of beautifully-kept gardens that serve as a living museum?  The Idaho Botanical Garden, just a short drive from downtown Boise.

The Garden is a huge part of what makes the Boise Valley such a phenomenal place to live, and this year marks its 25th Anniversary.  Born from a strong cadre of volunteers with a passion for botany, conservation and gardening in 1984, the Garden has greatly expanded its programs and is considered a primary horticulture education center in our area for young and old alike.

On June 26, 27 and 28, the Garden is hosting a trio of activities that will introduce you to the best the Garden has to offer.  On the 26th, savor the designed outdoor living spaces at the Enchanted Garden Gala.  Featuring a delicious tasting menu from Bill Green and entertainment from the Frim Fram Four and Amy Weber, you are sure to have a delightful evening.  Tickets are $100 per person and include a membership to the Garden.

On the 27th, join in with friends at the Summer Garden Party featuring Blaz’n Kelly in the English Garden from 7-9 p.m. and Jon Bonine’s Quartet in the Meditation Garden from 9-11 p.m.  Tickets are $40 per person and include a membership to the Garden.

Bring the whole family to Family Day on Sunday the 28th from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.  There will be games, music, stories, and the chance to explore the Children’s Garden as well as the other amazing features in all of the Idaho Botanical Garden.  Regular admission fees apply, with a pancake brunch for $5 for adults and free for kids.

For reservations for any of these events or for more information, call 343-8649.

Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides – Udderly Delicious

Is there anything more refreshing in the summer than a crisp glass of milk?  Or perhaps a scoop (oh, make it two!) of homemade ice cream?  Add a dollop of chocolate syrup or fresh fruit to either, and you just might be in heaven.  Oh, and maybe just a nice slice of fresh pie or a cookie that you know just came from the oven?

Would you like to have a great taste from Idaho’s amazing local farms and dairies that produce milk and other delicious food products without hormones or other chemicals?  Celebrate our local family farms and dairies on Sunday, June 14 at the Boise Urban Garden School, located at 4821 Franklin Rd. in Boise from 1:30-3:30 p.m. 

You will have the opportunity to sample milk, cheeses, quiches, and baked goods created from the bounty of our community’s local farms and dairies.  Proceeds of the sales go to the Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides, which seeks to promote alternatives to pesticides through educating the public, providing support to farmers wishing to transition to organic, creating pesticide-free public spaces, and working on legislative policy.

Tickets for the event are $15 adults, $7.50 children. Tickets are available by calling Jennifer Miller at (208) 850-6504.

Idaho Rivers United – Water Wise Garden Tour

Pop quiz:
What is one thing you can count on in Boise in the summer?  Answer: heat.
What is one thing you can’t take for granted in the West?  Answer: water.

As the balance of those critical factors test our lawns every summer, it is helpful to know how to make the best use of water.  Idaho Rivers United is dedicated to not only protecting our rivers but also with educating citizens on overall water policy and conservation. 

On Tuesday, June 16th, Idaho Rivers United will be conducting a Water Wise Garden Tour to highlight efficient gardening practices.  Attendees will enjoy food and drink at the MK Nature Center along with a guided tour of their demonstration garden and presentations.  They will then be transported to tour four Water Wise gardens around the city.  Experts will be at each site to talk about the plants and the design, and the owners will also be available to talk about upkeep and water savings.  The tours will end at 9pm.

Tickets are $20 for Idaho Rivers United members and $25 for non-members. For a $35 donation you get to go on the tour and join Idaho Rivers United. 

For more information, visit www.idahorivers.org or call 343-7481.  Space is limited.

Land Trust of the Treasure Valley – Wild and Scenic Film Festival

The natural environment is an integral part of the quality of life we enjoy in the Treasure Valley.  Most of us rely on that in some way every day, whether by taking a moment’s pleasure in the beauty of our surroundings or by heading to the great outdoors for our own form of a mental bailout plan.

The Land Trust of the Treasure Valley helps ensure that those open spaces will be here for us and for future generations.  The Land Trust identifies lands with natural, scenic, recreational and agricultural values, and works with willing landowners to conserve those lands through acquisition, easement, education, and good stewardship.

On Saturday, April 4th, the Land Trust will host Patagonia’s Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival Tour at the Center on the Grove to help raise awareness for both local and global environmental issues.

Along with two hours of compelling films, the event will feature informative displays including the top photos and video produced by Idaho children through the statewide “Be Outside” campaign.

Doors open at 1:30pm for the 2pm matinee showing and at 6:30pm for the 7pm showing.  .

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at www.lttv.org, by calling 345-1452 or at the door. A limited number of complimentary student tickets are available by calling in advance.

Idaho Rivers United – Auction for the Rivers

In Idaho, our lives are guided by water.  From the rivers we enjoy for recreation to the water systems that provide our agricultural base, water has a dramatic impact on our economy, biodiversity and daily lives.

With such a vital force at stake, there are often competing interests on how to navigate the complexities of water use.  Idaho Rivers United helps to steer the course for current and future waves in river protection and the ecological integrity of our rivers.

They accomplish this through a variety of means, with an emphasis on citizen involvement.  Buoyed by over 3500 members, IRU involves their volunteers and members in the protection of our wild rivers, keeping our drinking water clean, defending at-risk populations of fish, establishment of instream flows, and minimizing the impacts of dams on Idaho's rivers.

You can help guide the future of Idaho’s rivers by participating in IRU’s 14th Annual Auction for the Rivers on Saturday, November 15th  at the Boise Train Depot.  The event will feature over 100 items including a wide array of outdoor gear from boats to fly fishing ties,artwork, spa care, river trips, ski weekends, and guided fishing trips. 

In addition to the silent auction bidding at the event, IRU is holding an online auction for a select group of items including a seat on a Costa Rica river trip, a variety of guided raft trips, and a ski weekend in Sun Valley.  A link to the online auction is available on www.idahorivers.org.  Bidding will close the night of the Auction for the Rivers event.

Tickets to the event are $10 for members and $15 for the general public.  Hors d’oeuvres will be provided and there will be no-host bar.  Free admission is offered to those who join Idaho Rivers United at the door.

For tickets and more information, call  343-7481 or visit www.idahorivers.org.

Idaho Conservation League - Evening on the River: A Gathering of Conservation Friends

As the sweet summer days fade into the glorious autumn, we relish our time outdoors in Idaho.  Whether it is in the mountains or by the rivers, we all have our favorite wild places that call to our spirit.  Indeed, it is the spirit, solitude and freedom of wild places that help make Idaho unique.

The Idaho Conservation League is hosting a fundraising event on Saturday, September 6 to celebrate and support the unique beauty of Idaho’s wilderness. “An Evening on the River:  A Gathering of Conservation Friends” will be held from 5:00 to 8:00 pm at the Barber Park Education and Event Center. 

Against the backdrop of the beautiful Boise River, guests can sample wines and beers while enjoying food harvested by the Boise Urban Garden School and prepared by Life’s Kitchen. 

Music by Curtis Stigers, The Heard, and Bill Coffey & Ned Evett will add to the magic of the evening.

A silent and live auction will help raise money for ICL’s mission to protect Idaho's clean water, wilderness and quality of life.  Through citizen action, public education, and professional advocacy, ICL works to make certain that the rivers and quality recreational experiences are here today and for tomorrow.

Tickets cost $75 and are available by phoning 345-6933 x16 or at www.wildidaho.org, or emailing amoran@wildidaho.org.  Tickets can be purchased directly through the following link:
https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=idahocl&id=2

Think Boise First – CityHarvest Locavore Dinner

Sometimes living in the Treasure Valley, we can take for granted the incredible abundance that we have of delicious food, amazing artisans, and neighbors who passionately love the area. On Saturday, August 30, all of these elements will come together in full force at the CityHarvest Locavore Dinner to benefit Think Boise First.

You will be able to view a public art show happening on the Boise Centre on the Grove Plaza, and then sit down to an amazing feast of either 3 or 5 courses. All food will come from local farms and providers, and it will be cooked by five of the best chefs in the Treasure Valley. The Ben Burdick Trio will be there, too, to set the right tone with outstanding jazz.

This fantastic display of community will help Think Boise First. The organization’s mission is to inform Boiseans about the importance locally-owned businesses have in our economy to create a more sustainable city.

Come together in community with your neighbors to delight all your senses and celebrate Boise.

Tickets are $50 each for the three-course meal (bring your own beverages), or $100 for the five-course meal with wine pairing, and tables for ten may be reserved. Seats are limited so be sure to purchase your ticket soon! To purchase your ticket, contact Karen Ellis at 345-9287 or Tamara Cameron at 433-5675/

Idaho Botanical Garden – Summer Garden Party

The costumes are hot, the martinis cold, and the jazz is… smokin!  As the heat of the summer gets into full swing (soon, soon!), there will be no cooler place to be on Friday, June 20th than at the Idaho Botanical Garden’s Summer Garden Party. 

Continuing with its annual 1920s theme, attendees step back in fine style to the era of hot speakeasies and cool elegance.  Flapper outfits, zoot suits, spats and white linen will fill the gardens while the Big Band sound of Boise Straight Ahead fills the air.  If the 1920s are not your thing, you can still enjoy the ambiance of the event dressed in summer garden attire. 

There is something for everyone at this elegant and stylish event.  Attendees can try their skill with dance moves such as the Charleston, the Shimmy, and the Fox Trot.  Playing croquet on the manicured lawn is another option, as is viewing the vintage cars on display.  Not to be missed is the chance to stroll around the dozen themed gardens including a native plant garden, a rose garden, and an English garden.  A summer buffet dinner and silent and live auctions add to the revelry of the evening.

As darkness falls, attendees can head to the Meditation Garden for the After Hours Jazz Club.  There, under the starlit sky, they can enjoy a nightcap while listening to the smooth jazz of the Jon Bonine Quartet.

The evening is sponsored by The McAlvain Group of Companies.  Proceeds from the event support the programs of the Idaho Botanical Garden and development of the Children's Adventure Garden.  The primary focus this year is to raise funds for the Children’s Garden, according to Board Vice-President Christopher Pooser.  This new garden will be a natural playground and outdoor exploration area complete with treehouses, a beach, a reading lawn, and mazes.

Tickets are $125 per person or $1,250 for a reserved table for 10.  For further information or to purchase tickets contact the Idaho Botanical Garden at (208) 343-8649 or  www.idahobotanicalgarden.org. 

Idaho Green Expo

“It’s not easy being green” the saying goes.  However, the Idaho Green Expo is aiming to show you that it is not as difficult as our favorite esteemed amphibian has alleged. 

The free two day annual event on Saturday, May 17 and Sunday, May 18 at the Boise Centre on the Grove will showcase environmentally friendly products and services, and provide information that will help people to lead healthier and more sustainable lives. Over 150 exhibitors will be featured and more than 60 workshops and seminars offered on a variety of green-living topics. Attractions will also include music, speakers, art, food, demonstrations and activities for children.

One innovative impact that the Expo will have on the future of Boise is being promoted by GreenWorks Idaho.  GreenWorks invests in the development of community-based sustainable infrastructures by providing business incubation, shared services, advocacy and education
for the successful exchange of green ideas, products and services.  As one of their initial projects, GreenWorks is planning to build a permanent stage on the Grove with a solar array as its roof, creating an energy-neutral gathering place and performance space for our community. 

You can learn more about the Greening of the Grove project by attending the Green Show concert the evening of Saturday, May 17th, featuring The Fool Squad and the music of Curtis Stigers, Jeremiah James, Bill Coffey, Dale Keys, the Frim Fram Four, Amuma Says No, Rebecca Scott and others.  A fashion show themed “Green is the New Black” by Foxtrot Boutique will be held before the concert.  A raffle will also be held during the Expo to raise money for the Greening of the Grove project. 

The Greening of the Grove project is just one of many that you will learn about by attending the Idaho Green Expo.  In doing so, you will find that it is not so hard after all to make an investment in our future.  Complete information on the Expo is available at  www.idahogreenexpo.com. 

Land Trust of Treasure Valley - Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival

As the weather turns warmer, we are reminded how lucky we are to live in a state with such wild and scenic beauty But April showers are still on their way, driving us back indoors for awhile longer. Luckily, the Land Trust of Treasure Valley is bringing the best of both worlds to us: a chance to view landscapes and stories with beautiful imagery while sitting comfortably indoors.

Patagonia’s Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival will be hosted by the Land Trust of Treasure Valley on Saturday, April 5th. Held at the Center on the Grove in the Summit Theater, it is the largest environmental film festival in North America. The Land Trust of Treasure Valley is a local non-profit organization dedicated to conserving the natural, scenic, recreation and farm lands in the Treasure Valley by working collaboratively with landowners and communities.

The Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival Tour brings together award-winning environmental films in a spirit of inspiration and education. A series of short films are shown that are intended to highlight environmental concerns, provide solutions, and inspire people to take action close to home.

Doors open at 6:30 for the evening shows and at 1:30 for the matinee. A silent auction and conservation displays are available prior to the show. Tickets are $12 for the evening show and $8 for the matinee.

Tickets and a schedule of films are available at www.lttv.org. Tickets may also be purchased at the door.