Idaho Botanical Garden
The Idaho Botanical Garden (50 acres) is a nonprofit botanical garden located at 2355 North Penitentiary Road, Boise, Idaho. It is open during daylight hours; an admission fee is charged.
Until 1973 the site served as the Idaho State Penitentiary's farm and nursery. After the penitentiary was closed, the land lay dormant for more than a decade, and in 1984 the gardens were first created. Today the following gardens exist:
- Alpine Garden - Rock garden with a diverse collection of alpine plants.
- Cactus Garden - cactus and succulents suited to southwest Idaho.
- English Garden - plants typical to English gardens, selected to perform in the local climate. Designed by landscape architect John Brookes.
- Herb Garden - herbs used for medicines, cosmetics, decoration, and cooking.
- Idaho Native Plant Garden (completed 1994) - representative plants from Idaho's desert and woodlands environments, including sagebrush, syringa, native dogwood, and Idaho fescue.
- Iris Garden - Dykes Medal iris varieties.
- Meditation Garden - mature trees planted in the 1930's and 1940's by minimum security prisoners at the old Penitentiary.
- Peony Garden (planted 1992) - 21 varieties of hybrid peonies.
- Rose Garden - Heirloom and other old-style roses.
- Water Garden - water lilies, iris, koi, frogs, aquatic insects, and occasional water fowl.