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Leading with Purpose
What do you call a woman who holds a community together, solves the kind of problems no one sees coming, and still finds time to lead with heart?
Around here, we call her inspiring
This issue is full of women who don’t wait for permission or recognition. They step in, they step up, and they do the work—whether it’s navigating complex infrastructure, launching a business from their kitchen counter, or translating Broadway into a new language so more people can feel the magic.
Some carry decades of experience. Others are just getting started. But each of them is shaping what progress looks like in Idaho, not with fanfare, but with focus. They’re mentoring the next generation, building stronger nonprofits, guiding students, raising families, and creating spaces where more of us feel seen.
What struck me most as we put this issue together wasn’t just what these women have accomplished—it’s how they lead. With creativity. With grit. With a deep sense of purpose.
So whether you’re flipping through these pages with your morning coffee or sharing a story with someone who needs a little encouragement right now, I hope you feel what we felt putting this together: hope, admiration, and a reminder that leadership doesn’t always wear a title.
Sometimes, it wears an apron. Or work boots. Or a brave face on a hard day.
Here’s to the women who inspire—and to the communities better off because of them.
Russell Detablan | editorial@meridiancitylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Martha Channer, Tammy De Weerd, Jana Kemp, Renee Van Ausdle, Chelsea Chambers, Denise Llorente, Lori Hawkins, Mel Boban
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Phil White, 8th Street Studio, Tammy De Weerd, Ashley Loeb, Jordan Gray, Kristina Gillespie-Jaques, Merrick & Company
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
COO Matthew Perry
CRO Jamie Pentz
CTO Ajay Krishnan
VP OF OPERATIONS Janeane Thompson
VP OF SALES Andrew Leaders
AD DESIGNER Evan Deuvall
LAYOUT DESIGNER Kirstan Lanier
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Marina Campbell
inside the issue
KRISTINA GILLESPIE-JAQUES HELPS IDAHO COMMUNITIES SECURE FUNDING AND BUILD RESILIENT WATER SYSTEMS THAT KEEP TAPS RUNNING AND FUTURES FLOWING STRONG
The Work
Behind the Water
ARTICLE BY CHELSEA CHAMBERS
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KRISTINA GILLESPIE-JAQUES, MERRICK & COMPANY
We wake up each morning and turn on the faucet—we brush our teeth, get a glass of water, and step into the shower. We get to work and go through the motions of our busy days and never stop once to think about what happens after we flush the toilet. We don’t have to, we never have. Once we’re home, we boil water for pasta and rinse off the lettuce in the sink before settling on the couch with a hot cup of tea. Between taking care of ourselves, our families, our pets, and our houseplants, in just 24 hours we’ve turned the faucet on over 50 times going through more than 80 gallons of water per person. In a year, one person alone uses an average of 36,000 gallons of water. And that is a conservative estimate.
Despite how little we think about these systems, we use them almost nonstop. It’s only when something goes wrong that we begin to realize just how much time, energy, and money it takes to keep the faucet on and the toilets flushing.
Kristina Gillespie-Jaques has spent the better part of 20 years ensuring that Idaho’s municipal water systems
keep flowing as we expect them to. Alongside a dedicated team of engineers and construction managers at Merrick & Company, Kristina works directly with Idaho communities to both identify and solve issues with their public drinking and wastewater systems.
This infrastructure is expensive . Communities can expect to spend millions upon millions of dollars to build new systems and nearly just as much to repair them. “In the past five years alone, our team has secured over $400 million in low interest loans and grants from a multitude of federal, state, county, and private partners for Idaho communities,” Kristina shares. “The work to bring America’s aging and failing infrastructure into this century’s regulatory standards is far too great to ignore. In addition, the level of funding required to rehabilitate and replace our water infrastructure is exorbitant.”
Kristina’s role within Merrick includes finding, securing, and administering low-interest loans and grant dollars for primarily rural communities in Idaho. Which is no small feat. This work takes years of planning. Not to mention frequent coordination with stakeholders and funding entities like the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development. Many smaller communities are strapped not only financially but also in terms of personnel. Kristina helps alleviate the burden on these communities by handling the complicated grant applications and challenging compliance requirements for long-term loans.
She continues, “This work is important because our very livelihoods rely on whether we are willing to make these critical investments in our infrastructure. To that end, I am one of many that are laboring to advance this great work using creativity and ingenuity to bring about lasting solutions for future generations.”
A central-Idaho native, Kristina fell in love with the Gem State early on. To this day, she can still be found riding down the Salmon River with her husband, catching rapids and soaking up the sunshine on some of Idaho’s most beautiful waterways; waterways that she works so hard to help protect.
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A PRINCIPAL, A MOTHER, AND AN UNBREAKABLE WILL SURROUNDED BY SUPPORT
FAITH ON THE FRONTLINE
For years, Kimberly DeMain dedicated herself to guiding others—her students, her staff, and her two young sons. On November 21, 2012, the day before Thanksgiving, everything changed. DeMain was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer: carcinoma of the breast, metastatized to the liver.
Nineteen years ago, DeMain moved from Florida to Idaho, beginning her career as a science teacher at Cole Valley Christian School (CVCS) in Meridian. One year later, she was promoted to the role of principal, a position she still holds today. At the time of her diagnosis, she and her husband Rob were raising their two sons—11-year-old David and 20-month-old Philip.
The weight of the diagnosis, the treatments, the fear—could have broken her. Instead, she stood strong.
“I remember one night early on, pouring my heart out to the Lord, afraid that I would fade from David’s memory and that Philip wouldn’t remember me at all. I started to break down, and in that moment, God asked me: Do you trust Me? Did I truly believe what I had always claimed as a Christian?” DeMain said.
“In that instant, I knew that the Lord loved my boys more than I did—infinitely more—and that, of course, I trusted Him. I trusted Him with my boys’ lives and mine, and that no matter what the outcome, He is good and faithful and loves us without end. After that moment, I certainly could trust Him with a stage 4 cancer diagnosis.”
“I remember my mom early on telling me how she cried out to God, asking Him,
‘Why me?’ And I told my mom, ‘Why not me?’ I’m not special,” DeMain said. “Trials happen to us all, and cancer has helped open my eyes to the pain and suffering that all of us undergo, in all its forms. The point is to bring us to Him so that we can love Him and love others in the process.”
What followed was not only a battle against cancer, but a testament to the power of belief, resilience, and a community that refused to let her fight alone.
“The CVCS community proved to be an extension of my family and God’s presence and support in my life,” DeMain said. “The students rallied around me—creating worship CDs, starting a Facebook Prayer Warriors group, and organizing fundraisers. Basketball teams shaved their heads, and a sophomore girl, Danika Langley, got a buzz cut.” Faculty and student families were equally involved, with high school teacher Melody Moehlmann shaving her head, faculty member Jana Smith coordinating the Kim’s Krusaders team for the Race for the Cure, and others providing support through gifts, prayers, and even a family trip to Mexico.
“It made every day a joy and a privilege to come to school.”
DeMain urges others to trust their own path. “Not every piece of advice is yours to carry. Through prayer, I learned to listen, appreciate the love behind it, and trust the choices I was meant to make.”
Today, Kimberly DeMain is cancer-free, healthy, and filled with joy—radiating the Lord’s light as she continues to inspire and guide the students at Cole Valley Christian Schools.
GOOD partnering
IDAHO PARTNERS FOR GOOD: GIVE BETTER TO GET BETTER
ARTICLE BY JANA KEMP | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED
Idaho Partners for Good grew out of Blossom Pua Johnston’s transformative life experiences, including her time in Idaho’s Governor’s Office, where she worked on grants across all 44 counties, and later at the Albertson Foundation, where she listened to philanthropists voice frustration over the limited impact of the nonprofits they supported.
Blossom began researching a better way to give—and better ways to lead nonprofits. These, she says, are the two sides of the same philanthropic coin. The key is not only giving effectively but also ensuring nonprofits have strong leadership teams and boards.
BLOSSOM PUA Johnston
IDAHO PARTNERS FOR GOOD
Rather than relying on traditional public health models of giving, Idaho Partners for Good centers its work on Human-Centered Design (HCD)—a model that focuses on interacting with nonprofits so they are active participants in designing their own solutions. Organizational effectiveness and nonprofit capacity building are at the heart of this approach.
To date, Idaho Partners for Good has served over 70 nonprofits, including the Boise Bicycle Project, Life’s Kitchen, Jesse Tree, JemFriends, NAMI Idaho, and the Good Samaritan Home.
Their Grantee Program—Idaho’s only venture philanthropy model—offers $45,000 in unrestricted funds over three years, along with pro bono consulting. Selected nonprofits receive governance assessments, help with strategic and succession planning, and tailored coaching. “We walk alongside, coach, and mentor,” says Johnston. “When nonprofits are stronger, healthier, and better equipped, Idaho Partners for Good exits—and encourages their ongoing, independent work.”
New capacity-building initiatives are also underway. One example: Emerging Leadership 101, a workshop focused on board governance and leadership development for those interested in serving on nonprofit boards. The idea emerged from their monthly Nonprofit Success Lab gatherings. Once trained, participants are matched to nonprofit boards based on their interests and skills.
Who should reach out to Idaho Partners for Good? According to Johnston, the answer is twofold: “Donors who want to get smarter and have more impact with their charitable efforts and investments. And nonprofits that are interested in thriving families and strong communities—from a systems level and a holistic perspective.”
The goal is simple but ambitious: develop stronger, healthier, and better-equipped nonprofits so they can do more of what they do best. Make sustainable happen. Or as Johnston puts it: “Give better to get better.”
WOMEN LEADING WITH HEART AND VISION
Celebrating women in the Treasure Valley who are redefining leadership, inspiring change, and building a bold, inclusive future
This May, we turn our attention to the women not just keeping pace—but setting it. Across the Treasure Valley and Idaho, women are expanding what leadership, entrepreneurship, and impact look like. They’re building with heart, leading with purpose, and navigating challenges with creativity, courage, and grit. Their work spans countless paths—each one shaped by experience, vision, and the drive to make a difference. These are not just stories of success, but of persistence, reinvention, and growth. They reflect what’s possible when women lead with both strategy and soul, and when communities support their progress.
In this issue, we celebrate the women who are helping shape a stronger, more inclusive future. Their leadership is making space for new voices, fresh ideas, and meaningful change. They remind us that transformation often begins at the local level—with small actions, shared purpose, and the will to keep moving forward.
As we honor their stories, we’re also inspired to keep listening, supporting, and showing up—for one another and for what’s next.
EDITOR’S NOTE: We’re always eager to hear about women making an impact in new and meaningful ways. Email: Editorial@ MeridianCityLifestyle.com
ARTICLE BY STAFF WRITER PHOTOGRAPHY BY PHIL WHITE, 8TH STREET STUDIO
CONTINUED >
Genny Heikka, CBH Homes
Mechele Duke, Rain Salon & Spa Jean Simmons, Simmons Fine Jewelry
Michele Vernon, The Ambrose School
Roxy Feller, Transformational Coach and Motivational Speaker
Carrie Kranz, 1st Miracle Boutique
Jan Lynch, Children’s Museum of Idaho
Seneca Hull, Franz Witte
Shelby Howe, Riverstone International School
Brandy Furiani, Eagle Chamber of Commerce
Melissa Heuser, The Sundry Boutique
Moya Dolsby, Idaho Wine Commission
Jamie Stoltz Ekman, Stoltz Marketing Group
Delaney Beisel, 208 Market Real Estate
Yori Dela Rosa, Idaho Veterans Chamber of Commerce
Katherine N. Faleschini, Hotel Renegade
Randy’L Teton, Idaho Author PC: Teton
Shay Smith. Umpqua Bank Ann Westley, Ann Elizabeth Jewelry
Susan Roghani, Chateau des Fleurs
MIXING MEMORIES DAILY
TAY’S FAMILY BAKING MOMENTS GREW INTO A SOCIAL MEDIA PHENOMENON
ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY
ASHLEY LOEB
They say the kitchen is the heart of the home, and this rings especially true for Taylor Durand. As a professional baker, Taylor surprisingly denies having a sweet tooth herself, but since she could operate an oven, she’s fallen in love with baking and has sought to “spread some love with sugar” by making treats for friends, teachers, and anyone craving a bit of sweetness.
For Taylor, baking is a family affair that started in the kitchen with her grandmother during childhood summer visits. While Taylor’s own children say she lives in the kitchen, she’s found a harmonious balance in her baking and family life—not only by including her children in the kitchen, but also by limiting baking to some weekends, subbing as a teacher at their school during the week, and dedicating summers entirely to being with her family.
Before Taylor’s family grew, a coworker’s request for a custom cake sparked the idea for a little “side-bakery.” Flash forward four years to 2018: Taylor followed in her grandmother’s footsteps, bringing her own family into the kitchen after she quit her full-time job and dove into baking following the birth of her now seven-year-old son, Oliver. That’s when Treats by Tay was born.
While Oliver’s helpful hands assist on occasion, her husband samples new flavors, and they both love to promote their mother’s talent, Cameryn, Taylor’s five-year-old daughter, has been her mother’s main apprentice in the kitchen since she was in a baby sling. In fact, Taylor credits Cameryn for the boom in her social media presence. A sweet moment of smiles between baby and mother during one of her early baking videos went viral. Since then, Taylor—through her social handle @treatsbytay— has reached nearly 200k followers. That single, heartfelt clip opened the door for Taylor to touch thousands more hearts through her treats.
“Baking is a messy sport; you just have to smile and add more sprinkles!”
Today, Taylor still welcomes others into her Meridianbased home kitchen with regular how-to videos and family-friendly posts. She also enjoys teaching baking classes for adults and older children. In addition to baking for loved ones and fulfilling custom orders, she loves donating cakes to local veteran organizations—especially meaningful since her husband, Drew Durand, is a retired Army veteran.
One of Taylor’s most memorable baking experiences came when she was invited by the Today Show to represent
Idaho in the 2022 Great American Holiday Cookie Swap. Both excited and terrified, she tuned in from her kitchen to share her recipe for Idaho Potato Chip Cookies. “It was a blast and such an incredible experience.” Another full-circle moment came when her biggest inspiration—her grandmother—called to ask her for baking advice. “It’s pretty special when my grandmother calls me to run a recipe by me or will ask for advice when trying something new. It makes my heart so happy that she reaches out to me when it has always been the other way around.”
Taylor’s favorite part of the baking process is when it’s time to decorate. Working with icing is therapeutic for her. “I could smooth icing on a cake for hours and not get bored.” She loves the endless creative possibilities and feels most fulfilled when trying new flavors or designs, especially knowing her creations might brighten someone’s day.
Taylor also admits to a bit of a baking-tool obsession. A quick glance at her two overflowing utensil holders—brimming with colorful spatulas—is proof. Her favorite tool? The offset spatula. “You can decorate a whole cake with just this one tool. It’s the first tool I give out in my cake classes. You can use it for so much, including multiple cake designs.” She also swears by cake combs for adding texture or smoothing the finish, depending on the desired look.
Beyond her grandmother’s teachings, Taylor draws inspiration from other bakers and occasionally from ideas that pop into her mind, prompting her to race for a pen and paper. When asked for advice, she reminds fellow bakers to slow down and enjoy the process. “Take your time. Don’t rush through recipes or designs. And most importantly, just have fun—especially when it comes to decorating.”
“I could smooth icing on a cake for hours and not get bored.”
She also reminds aspiring bakers not to be discouraged. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve thrown out burnt cookies, messed up a recipe, or couldn’t figure something out. I’ve been baking for over 15 years, and just last week I forgot a main ingredient in a cake. Baking is a messy sport; you just have to smile and add more sprinkles!”
Follow Taylor and her creations on Instagram at @treatsbytay.
SIGNING THE ARTS
Holly Thomas-Mowery and LaVona Andrew Carson Provide Theater Magic to Deaf Patrons
Stage left, another spotlight highlights two performers. Their outfits are void of sequins. They don’t sing. In fact, for the entire show, no words cross their lips.
American Sign Language (ASL) performing arts interpreters Holly Thomas-Mowery and LaVona Andrew Carson bring multitudes of characters to life at the Morrison Center’s Broadway in Boise series and the Idaho Shakespeare Festival (ISF).
A NEW ROLE
“My dad is Deaf and my mom is a sign language interpreter, so I’ve done this as long as I can remember,” Andrew Carson said. “I started performing arts interpreting towards the end of high school. It’s still fun.”
Thomas-Mowery started interpreting professionally at 20.
ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY JORDAN
GRAY
“The process of preparing for live-interpreting theater was mind-blowing to me, and I can’t get enough of it,” she said.
REHEARSE, REHEARSE, REHEARSE
After divvying up dozens of roles, show preparation takes several hundred hours.
“We make it look so easy,” Thomas-Mowery said. “I think people don’t realize the incredible amount
of work that goes into bringing any production into a whole other language, live, in cadence.”
“It helps to interpret from meaning, not the word for word,” Andrew Carson added.
For example, “Guns and Ships” from “Hamilton” is notoriously quick, with one section boasting 19 words in three seconds.
“We have to memorize those lines, and then I piece out what exactly is the point,” Thomas-Mowery said.
Translating also covers sounds and foreign languages, like the onomatopoeia and Hindi chanting in “TINA, the Tina Turner Musical.”
“We have very deep collaboration with the Deaf community, especially when it’s nonsensical. When the chanting happens on stage, we don’t just drop our hands and say, ‘Well, we don’t know that language,’” Thomas-Mowery said. “It really breaks the fourth wall where the Deaf participant now realizes, ‘Oh wait, I’m just at a play’ as opposed to, ‘I’m involved and engaged in this story.’”
SHOWTIME
During the pre-show and intermission, the interpreters provide theater patrons like Tara Adams with ‘scaffolding.’
“The interpreters will go over a list of name signs they’ll be using for each of the characters, as well as signs they’re using for nonsensical terms,” she said. “Or they’ll give us history on why a sign was selected
to be used for that certain context. They prep us to make it so we don’t have to work as hard to process the signing when the performance has already started. We can just sit back and enjoy the show.”
SOMETIMES SCAFFOLDING REQUIRES CREATIVITY.
“There’s an Agatha Christie ISF did a few years ago and there’s a gunshot during the blackout,” Andrew Carson said. “We don’t want to give away a spoiler. So sometimes we say there’s going to be a very loud sound. And then it will be obvious what that was when the lights come up, and you can see there’s a body. We want to ensure Deaf people have a parallel experience.”
Even with scripts and certain lines memorized, live theater demands flexibility.
“If something changes on stage, or if (the actors) deliver a line differently, we’ll follow what they’re doing right now,” Andrew Carson said. “We have
to be familiar enough – trusting our own preparation, trusting our partner – that we can pivot immediately with whatever is happening on stage. I think that is the hallmark of really qualified performing arts interpreters.”
EXPANDING THE SPOTLIGHT
The duo want more interpreters to ‘break a leg.’
“Us trying to grow that pool is starting out at hundreds of ASL interpreters, and then bringing it down to those who can even possibly imagine stepping on stage, and then going from that really small number to people who try it on for size,” Thomas-Mowery said.
“We work with experienced interpreters who are newer to performing arts type work,” Andrew Carson said. “We’ve taught workshops to show our process. We’re happy to be a support just to grow access and grow the performing arts interpreting community.”
Andrew Carson is also teaching a new generation with Idaho State University’s interpreter training program.
“Our undergraduate juniors will interpret Boise Music Week’s (‘Fiddler on the Roof’) performance,” she said. “They’ve done that since 2017.”
ACCESSIBLE MAGIC
“We know that great live theater takes you as a person in your heart where you are, and when you leave the theater at the end, you’re a different person, your heart is in a different place,” Andrew Carson said. “And for Deaf people to have that experience, just like their hearing family, their hearing friends, all of the other people in our community, and for them to be fully and equally included is really a transformative experience. Theater’s transformative for everybody who is open to that experience. But making sure people get that opportunity is so valuable.”
“Magic happens at the theater,” Thomas-Mowery said. “And I feel very fortunate to have this opportunity to be a small piece of making magic.”
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From India to Avani : Sashi’s Winemaking Journey
A BIODYNAMIC VINEYARD, A NURTURING WINEMAKER, AND WINES DEEPLY ROOTED IN NATURE
ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY TAMMY DE WEERD
Our first visit to Avani Wines wasn’t planned—it was serendipity. The small, biodynamic vineyard in Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula was closed the day we arrived, yet Shashi and Devendra Singh welcomed us in, opening their tasting room and sharing their wines and beautiful story.
That day, a kinship was formed. Fast forward eight years when we returned, they greeted us like old friends. Some things had changed—their son Mohit had returned from the fast pace of London, joining his mom working the land and making wines. Sitting with them and sharing stories felt more like visiting family than visiting a winery. And it was through that lens we experienced their wines.
Beyond the wine, what stands out most about Avani is Shashi herself—her warmth, her quiet determination, and her journey as a woman in winemaking.
Shashi Singh is not your typical winemaker. Born in Haryana, India, she moved to Australia through an arranged marriage, supporting her husband’s restaurant while raising their children. Yet, a love for the land and an inquisitive scientific mind led her to an unconventional path.
At 38, she began working under Phillip Jones, a pioneer of biodynamic winemaking at Bass Phillip. She pursued a double degree in Viticulture and Oenology and, in 2009, completed her first solo vintage. Avani Wines was born.
Shashi’s wines reflect her character—gentle yet determined, precise yet soulful. Her approach follows minimal intervention, letting nature guide the process. Their estate Syrah, grown biodynamically, is a true expression of the land and the rhythm of nature.
A NURTURING SPIRIT IN WINEMAKING
Winemaking is more than a career for Shashi; it is a return to her roots. In India, she learned how to work with nature —a philosophy that defines Avani Wines today.
Avani means “the earth” in Sanskrit—a name that speaks to Shashi’s respect for the land. With a scientist’s mind and a farmer’s intuition, she embraces biodynamic viticulture, believing that a healthy vineyard produces the best wines. Chemicals are never used; the land is nurtured through natural cycles, allowing the soil and vines to thrive naturally, building strength and resistance, and resulting in vibrant, expressive wines. She believes wine should tell the story of its origin, and at Avani, every bottle does just that.
In this season of celebrating women— mothers, entrepreneurs, and those who pave the way for future generations— Shashi Singh stands as a soft yet powerful force. In a world where winemaking is often about control, Shashi takes a different path: she listens, adapts, and trusts nature. This patience and gentle strength, makes Avani special. Shashi’s journey proves that it is never too late to embrace a calling, that motherhood and ambition can coexist, and tradition and innovation can work hand in hand.
For us, Avani is more than a winery. It’s a place where we feel at home, where we connect around the table, and each visit feels like picking up where we left off—as it should when you’re among friends.
In July, we are excited to feature Avani Wines on our Spoken Wines YouTube channel, sharing this remarkable story of passion, perseverance, and wines that speak of the earth.
Tasting the future—Shashi Singh carefully evaluates her wines in the barrel room, balancing tradition with her signature minimal-intervention approach.
“Shashi Singh’s journey proves that it is never too late to embrace a calling, that motherhood and ambition can coexist, and that tradition and innovation can work hand in hand.”
Planting Spring Flowers
Helpful tips for planting spring flowers
Sun-Loving Plants:
Spring is here! We compiled a list of flowers that - depending on your planting zone - can be planted in the season.
Plumbago
Has beautiful dark blue or white flowers on a large shrub of 3 to 5 feet. This tends to freeze down in winter and comes back from roots in the spring.
Hibiscus
The tropical variety will not survive the winters so move those pots inside. The plant can get up to 5 feet tall and there are many different colors and varieties. The perennial varieties will freeze to the ground but come back in the spring. The variety Moy Grande is known as the dinner plate hibiscus. The Texas star hibiscus has beautiful flowers in red or white.
Bougainvillea
These colorful plants can be planted in baskets and pots, not in water-logged or low areas where water might collect. They will grow best when given enough space to spread out, and should be planted in an area that will allow them a minimum of 5-6 hours of sunlight every day. Colors include orange, pink, purple, white, red, tangerine and fuschia to name a few.
Purslane
This is great in baskets for trailing leaves with lots of colors. The bees love it!
Butterfly Weed
This 3 to 4-foot bush is a must for monarch lovers. Monarchs feed on the leaves before making their cocoons. It has beautiful orange and yellow flowers.
ARTICLE BY LORI HAWKINS
Shade-Loving Plants:
Lantana
This is a great hot weather plant that comes in many colors and varieties. Trailing varieties only get about 1 foot tall but can get 3 to 4 feet wide. There are bush varieties that get 4 feet tall and dwarf bushes only get about 2 feet tall. It comes in yellows, purples, reds, oranges, pinks, fuchsia, and many others.
Gregg’s Blue Mist
This fuzzy light blue flower is a butterfly favorite.
Pentas
This is another bee and butterfly favorite that grows about 10 to 12 inches tall. There is a graffiti variety in different colors that works in beds or pots.
Vinca/Periwinkle
This plant comes in upright or trailing varieties. There are many colors to choose from: lavender, white with a red center, peach, white and red, pink to strawberry.
Sages
There are many varieties of sage. The Texas sage is a shrub that has beautiful lavender flowers - a favorite for bees. They usually bloom around the time it rains. Henry Duelberg variety is a smaller bush 18 to 20 inches tall with blue stalks of blooms. Russian Sage is a tall silver lacey foliage with light blue flower spikes and grows to 4 feet tall. Deer tend to stay away from most of the sages.
Turk’s Cap
This plant makes a large bush of red or pink flowers. It has low water needs once established and can tolerate drought conditions and hot temperatures. Prune back plant in winter if it gets too leggy.
Impatiens
These need more water than most other plants and come in many colors. They are valued for their vibrant colors, abundant blooms, and tolerance for shade.
Caladiums
With lush multicolored leaves, many larger than the palm of your hand, caladiums have become one of the most popular foliage plants for shady or semi-shady gardens—with many recent introductions being sun tolerant.
DIY DAY
INSPIRATION FOR A MOTHER/ DAUGHTER DIY DAY
ARTICLE BY MEL BOBAN
WITH MOM
An afternoon spent together is priceless with today’s busy schedules. Instead of going out, staying in can provide quaint, quiet one-on-one time for a mother and daughter (or multiple daughters). Finding time on calendars is the hard part, and filling that time is all fun from there. Here are a few favorite ideas for inspiration that may spark excitement for planning those special times together.
01 Charm Necklaces
Custom DIY charm necklaces and bracelets are trending. Gather a theme idea: birthstones, family initials, travels or even favorite hobbies, and procure charms from your local craft store or online shop. Selecting charms for each other also could be a fun way to bring delight to the crafting occasion. Necklaces and bracelets can be made for each other, or as future gifts for upcoming occasions such as a family wedding, a birthday milestone or an anniversary.
02 Interview Journaling
Storytelling makes for the best memories. Structure memory recall by filming or journaling interview-style question-and-answer sessions, cataloging information for future generations. Videos and notes with detailed family adventures are priceless, and we all always wish we had more of them.
03 Meal Prep
Text conversations around kitchen tips or ingredient procurement seem endless. Spend some time together in the kitchen preparing favorite family recipes, sharing Mom’s best tips and tricks. Choosing freezer-friendly meals is a great way to walk away with meals for upcoming busy days. There’s nothing like Mom’s recipes!
MAY 2025 Meridian + Valley Events
1 — WONDER WOMEN OF COUNTRY
Shrine Social Club, 7 PM: Three incredible artists, one unforgettable night of music. dice.fm
1-11 —FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
Morrison Center: Continuing 105 years of free musical events. boisemusicweek.org
2-4 — THE SLEEPING BEAUTY
Morrison Center: Tchaikovsky’s iconic score and breathtaking ballet. morrisoncenter.com
3 — WESTERN IDAHO FIDDLE CONTEST
Church 7:24: A celebration of traditional fiddle music. ktsy.org
3 — BOISE RIVER MARATHON
Boise River, 6:30 AM: Race through Boise’s stunning scenery! findarace.com
Kleiner Park, 10 AM: Get moving and connect with the community! meridiancity.org
10 — HEMPFEST 2025
Julia Davis Park, 10 AM: Live music, vendors, art, kids’ activities, and cannabis education. boisehempfest.org
10 — MOTHER’S DAY MARKET
Indian Creek Plaza, 10 AM: Discover unique treasures and honor the incredible moms in your life! indiancreekplaza.com
10-11 — BELTANE FANTASY FESTIVAL
Expo Idaho, 10 AM: Welcome the arrival of spring with myth, magic, and merriment. idahorenfair.org
11 — ANNUAL HOEDOWN
The Crooked 8, 3 PM: A night of music, fun, and camping. crooked8.com
11 — MOTHER’S DAY BRUNCH
Zoo Boise, 9 AM: Buffet breakfast, zookeeper talk, photo op, and a gift for Mom! zooboise.org
14 — FAMILY STRENGTHENING RACE
Ann Morrison Park: Family fun run, walk, 3k, 5k. raceentry.com
16 — THE PATTY DUKE AWARDS
Morrison Center, 7:30 PM: Honoring outstanding high school musical theater in Idaho! morrisoncenter.com
16-18 — LITTLE WOMEN MUSICAL
Boise Theatre: Experience the timeless tale of love, hope, and sisterhood. boiselittletheater.org
17 — THE TASTE OF CALDWELL WINE FESTIVAL
Indian Creek Plaza, 5 PM: Sip and savor the best of Idaho’s Sunnyslope Wine Region! indiancreekplaza.com
17-18 — MAHLER 1
Morrison Center: Mahler’s First Symphony with the Boise Phil. morrisoncenter.com
17 — IDAHO’S LARGEST GARAGE SALE
Expo Idaho, 7 AM: Find great deals or sell your treasures at this massive one-day event! idahoslargestgaragesale.com
18 — CAPITOL KIDS CLASSIC
Treasure Valley, YMCA: A fun one-mile race for kids! ymcatvidaho.org
20 — OUTLAW MUSIC FESTIVAL
Ford Idaho, 4 PM: 10th anniversary tour. fordidahocenter.com
24 — ZINGARA
Treefort Music Hall, 8 PM: For the Crystal Children Tour with special guest Gardella! treefortmusichall.com
26 — SPRING GRASS FEST
Green Acres Food Truck Park, 11 AM: A day of live bluegrass music featuring local bands. idahobluegrassassociation.org
27 — BLIPPI: JOIN THE BAND TOUR!
Morrison Center, 6 PM: Sing, dance, and explore the magic of music with Meekah! morrisoncenter.com
30-31 — MISERY
Shrine Social Club: Where a writer’s biggest fan becomes his worst nightmare. stagecoachtheatre.com
30-31 — 43RD GREEK FOOD FESTIVAL
2618 West Bannock Street: Enjoy authentic Greek food, homemade pastries, live music, and dancing! BoiseGreekFestival.com
Inspired By Susan Roghani
Bringing Persian-inspired flavors and family traditions to Idaho’s dining scene
ARTICLE BY STAFF WRITER
PHOTOGRAPHY BY PHIL WHITE, 8TH STREET STUDIO
From lotions to libations (wine that is), and family sharing Persian foods, Susan Roghani regales listeners with stories one might see on a streaming show featuring international restaurants and chefs. Roghani’s Restaurant began service of foods inspired by family and Persia in April. The new dishes are layered in flavors that cause a delightful slowing down and savoring of ingredients that might prompt you to want to make the meal last forever. With a menu that offers the possibility of nine dining courses, visitors may want to protect hours to fully experience Roghani’s.
Hidden inside the elegant Chateau des Fleurs in Eagle, Idaho, Roghani’s Restaurant offers more than just a place to eat—it offers a chance to connect. Guests are welcomed into a cozy, art-filled dining room where ornate chandeliers, natural light, and the peaceful hum of classical music set the stage for a thoughtful, European-inspired meal. Seasonal produce from the family’s own garden and orchard is woven into each course. Wines from the Roghani family’s Snake River Valley vineyards add a local touch to the experience.
Susan Camille Beckman graduated from Weiser High School. With a knack for making lotions, Susan founded Camille Beckman in 1986 to create local jobs. Camille Beckman’s products still flow from the Eagle factory to stores and customers around the world.
Following her desire to help others, share meals, and make memorable products and experiences, Susan, her husband Foad Roghani, their daughter, and now extended family work together to care for each other and for the businesses they continue to build. With seven generations calling Idaho home, you might recognize these family names: Spraque; Dodd; Whiffin; Bullock; Beckman; Roghani; and Ishaq.
Their dream? A place where flavors, stories, and people gather—where every course carries a memory, and every memory lingers like a fine glass of wine.
Things to Know...
1 |
Susan married Foad Roghani not long after they met in 1987 and describes their life together as a love story for the ages. Look for their “love letters to each other” etched into the concrete outside Chateaux des Fleurs.
2 |
Wedding Venue: In 2015, the Roghanis built Chateaux des Fleurs to fill Boise’s need for a space that could host large family gatherings in an elegant setting.
3 |
Vision: A World Peace and Poetry Garden is planned at Chateaux des Fleurs—“a place where people can be in conversation, learn from each other, and hopefully leave as friends,” shared Roshan Roghani Ishaq, who now leads and manages Camille Beckman.
4 |
Kindness exudes from family members, with many stories shared over the years— from acts of generosity at the Camille Beckman store in Boise Town Square Mall 30 years ago, to thoughtful gestures shown to restaurant staff and guests today.
