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Annual Member and Media Event to Held on June 15, 2024 at 1:00 pm
BOISE, IDAHO (June 5, 2024) – The Idaho Botanical Garden is kicking off a celebration to commemorate the 40 years of the Garden. Details of the event include:
Date: June 15, 2024
Time: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Location: Idaho Botanical Garden – Meditation Garden
2355 Old Penitentiary Road
Beverages and light snacks will be served at the event
Honorary guest, Scott Simplot is dedicating the Northern Red Oak Tree that his father, J.R. Simplot, planted on June 29, 1984. Founding members will also be celebrated and recognized for their contributions in establishing the Garden as a space that acknowledges the appreciation of horticulture, botany, and national resources. The dedication portion of the event starts at 2:00 pm.
“Having Scott Simplot dedicate the tree that his father planted 40 years ago is a testament to the legacy and the memories that are made at the Idaho Botanical Garden,” said Erin Anderson, Executive Director. “We are lucky to have a space that celebrates traditions and the diversity of plants as much as it celebrates the unique communities in Idaho.
The Idaho Botanical Garden was an idea that Dr. Christopher Davidson, a Boise native with a PHD in Botany, brought to life. He began his career as a botanical curator travelling the world collecting and photographing plant specimens. In 1983 he began planning for a botanical garden in Boise. A board of eight members was incorporated, nonprofit status was received, a 50-year lease was approved by the state Land Board, and a 42.25-acre garden next to the Old Idaho Penitentiary was created. In 1983 the Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation awarded the Garden an initial grant of $10,000. In 1984, Dr. Davidson organized 17 local civic leaders and professionals to develop the #2 prison yard of the Old Idaho Penitentiary into the Idaho Botanical Garden
In addition to Mr. Simplot, Leevi Nanyeni, Curator of the National Botanic Garden of Namibia will also be in attendance. Mr. Nanyeni is visiting Idaho at the invitation of Sharon Davidson, who was married to the late Idaho Botanical Garden Founder Dr. Chris Davidson. As part of the Botanical Society of Namibia’s Core of Active Plant People or CAPP, he will be visiting the Idaho Botanical Garden where he will work with the horticulture team, share in IBG’s Community Education events, and learn more about our mission. What interests him most about visiting the Garden is the commonalities between the two Garden landscapes which are known as some of the few botanical gardens that share in nurturing a steppe ecosystem. A steppe is a semiarid temperate grassland ecosystem that is characterized by bunchgrasses, absence of trees, and well adapted to extreme weather conditions.
The Garden has an interesting and varied history adding more intrigue to the grounds. In addition to the diverse Gardens spots, IBG is home to many Old Idaho Penitentiary remnants including guard towers, former steam heat buildings, and a cemetery where guests place coins on top of headstones as a tribute.
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About Idaho Botanical Garden
Idaho Botanical Garden, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, serves as a hub of environmental education, sustainable horticulture, and cultural events. With over 150,000 visitors annually, the Garden connects people of all ages to the natural world, fostering a sense of stewardship and community. Learn more about Idaho Botanical Garden at www.idahobotanicalgarden.org.
