One of the most beautiful gardens in Idaho is hiding on a college campus of all places. It started out as a small grove of trees over 100 years ago, and since then it has since grown into one of the most gorgeous botanical gardens in the state. The historic arboretum and botanical garden are open to everybody, so plan a visit to it the next time you need an escape from the madness. This little-known oasis might just become your new personal happy place!
The University of Idaho Arboretum & Botanical Garden is one of the most stunning displays of natural beauty in the state, and you'll want to be sure to experience it yourself sometime.
Open to the public daily without charge, this little-known oasis was first established 110 years ago by Dr. Charles Houston Shattuck. As the university's first professor of forestry and the first dean of the College of Forestry, Shattuck was instrumental in turning the university into the natural oasis you see today.
In 1910, Shattuck began planting a 14-acre slope with hundreds of different trees and shrubs. Today, that same grove is now comprised of mature trees and is considered one of the West's oldest university plantings. It's especially known for its excellent Giant Sequoia planting!
However, the arboretum didn't truly transform until the 1970s when a group of professors took it upon themselves to add more plant diversity to the campus landscape. A new arboretum was proposed and the first trees were planted in it on Easter Sunday in 1982.
Today, visitors can explore the lush garden and arboretum by using the many walking trails that meander through the area. The entire distance around the arboretum is approximately 1.4-miles-long—perfect for a leisurely morning, afternoon, or evening stroll.
There are also many benches placed throughout the arboretum where you can sit down, relax, and soak it all in. There are so many amazing flowers and trees to look to be discovered within the garden's depths. You could spend the entire day here and still not see them all!
Take some time to stop and smell the conifers by planning a stroll through the University of Idaho Arboretum & Botanical Garden. This impressive display of natural beauty is bound to blow your mind.
Have you visited the historic arboretum on University of Idaho’s campus? It just goes to show that beauty is truly everywhere here in the Gem State. Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
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