The Idaho Botanical Garden has blossomed into 13 specialty gardens blooming from early March through October. The new Lewis & Clark Native Plant Garden is under construction and will open in May 2006. During the holidays the Garden comes alove with 150,000 sparkling lights.

The Garden occupies 50 acres that originally served as the farm and nursery for the Idaho State Penitentiary. The Old Penitentiary shut its doors in 1973 and for 12 years the land lay dormant. Dr. Davidson and the first board of directors negotiated a lease in 1984 and transformed the area from rock, weeds, and rubble into beautifully cultivated gardens. The Idaho Botanical Garden is a non-profit organization, providing a beautiful environment for garden lovers, tourists, community events, weddings, school tours, and horticultural education.