The Idaho Botanical Garden stands as a testament to community vision and leadership in the heart of Boise. Under the direction of Erin Anderson for the past nine years, this 15-acre sanctuary has evolved from humble beginnings to become a vital cultural asset poised for significant expansion.
Anderson’s journey into nonprofit leadership wasn’t planned. After graduating with a political science degree from Boise State, she briefly worked on a political campaign before discovering her passion in the nonprofit sector. Her first role writing grants for a book program at St. Vincent de Paul set her on a path that eventually led to becoming the executive director of the Boise Urban Garden School at just 29 years old. This experience, operating on a shoestring budget of $100,000, taught her invaluable lessons about community partnerships that would serve her well at the Idaho Botanical Garden.
What makes the Idaho Botanical Garden unique is not just its plants but its location and community impact. Situated adjacent to the Old Idaho Penitentiary, it’s one of only three gardens globally with this distinction. Founded in 1984 by Dr. Christopher Davidson, the garden has evolved over 41 years with a mission to “connect people, plants, and nature.” This mission manifests through beautiful display gardens showcasing plants that thrive in Idaho’s sagebrush steppe ecosystem, educational programming reaching over 6,000 children annually, and cultural events like the renowned Outlaw Field Concert Series and Winter Garden Aglow.
Perhaps most moving is the garden’s lesser-known partnership with the Idaho Department of Corrections. Women from the nearby correctional facility receive training in horticulture and event management, developing skills that can help them reenter society. As one formerly incarcerated woman told Anderson, “That garden saved my life.” The healing power of nature and purpose became evident in this program, inspiring plans for a dedicated horticulture therapy garden in the upcoming expansion.
The garden’s future looks remarkably bright with a comprehensive master plan developed after extensive community consultation. Phase one includes 4.6 acres of new garden spaces featuring an outdoor amphitheater seating 1,200 people, the region’s first official arboretum, therapeutic gardens, and a 22,000-square-foot visitor center. The center will house year-round classroom space and a food hub in partnership with City of Good and the Boise Farmer’s Market, creating infrastructure for local farmers to process and distribute their produce throughout the community.
Anderson’s leadership philosophy centers on listening and inclusion. “When people feel they have had a voice in the decision to be made, it changes the perception of that change,” she explains. This collaborative approach has helped transform what she affectionately calls a “Frankenstein garden” – one that has at times been held together with “duct tape and dental floss” – into a thriving community institution ready for its next chapter.
The garden’s story reflects what Anderson loves most about Boise itself: genuine connections and a community constantly striving to do better. In a rapidly growing city, the Idaho Botanical Garden serves as both an anchor to our agricultural heritage and a gateway to a sustainable future where people, plants, and purpose intertwine.
