STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

Journey to the Far East when the Sawtooth Botanical Garden stages its annual Summer Gala.

The garden south of Ketchum will be ablaze with paper lanterns and other Asian decorations in the annual fundraiser, which takes place at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 2.

“It will be a feast for the eyes and the palate, as we serve up great Thai food,” said Gala Chair Susan Flynn.

The garden party will feature dinner, drinks, appetizers and a host of silent auction items, including a vacation at a private home in Mexico. And Dale and Peggy Dates will lead the crowd in line dancing to country, Motown and other music served up by DJ Nathan Hudson.

“The flowers in the garden have never looked better,” said Flynn. “And we’re decorating it more than ever before with dragons and Asian floral arrangements. We’ll auction off the decorations at the end so people can take them home with them.”

Proceeds from the gala will go towards educational programs and children’s classes, many of which are free. It will also support such programs as one in which youth involved in Higher Ground Sun Valley develop motor skills by planting petunias and other plants.

For information, call 208-726-9358 or go to www.sbgarden.org.