STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK
Did you know that scarlet gilia, aka the scarlet trumpet or skyrocket, was first collected by Lewis and Clark along Idaho’s Lolo Trail? Or that a pit-boiled camas bulb tastes like a baked sweet potato but sweeter?
Get to know your local wildflowers on free guided wildflower walks.
The Sawtooth Botanical Garden and the Idaho Native Plant Society will hold two free mid-week wildflower walks this month—one on Wednesday, June 13, and the other on Wednesday, June 27.
The wildflower walks will be held near Ketchum. Participants should meet at 9:30 a.m. at the Sawtooth Botanical Garden four miles south of Ketchum at Gimlet Road and Highway 75. They will carpool from there to a spot nearby, returning by 1:30 p.m.
Walks are free and will happen rain or shine. They’re open to children ages 7 and older but it’s best to leave Fido at home.
Jeanne Cassell, who will lead the walks with Lisa Horton and Kristin Fletcher, has found a spot for this Wednesday’s hike that features lots of lupine, blue and death camas, penstemon, wyethia, arrowleaf balsamroot, buckwheat, pussytoes and more.
“They’re gorgeous! Bring your camera!” she says.
For more information, call 208-726-9358.
TAKE GARDEN TOUR ON SATURDAYS
The Sawtooth Botanical Garden is offering free tours of the Garden of Infinite Compassion form 10 to 11 a.m. each Saturday.