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Amazing butterfly photo on Instagram!

July 6, 2017

Lands Program Assistant Erin Erickson took this beautiful butterfly photo on our Foote Botanical Preserve at Mount George.

Follow us on Instagram and never miss a shot – https://www.instagram.com/napalandtrust/.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BWLWDObgVvM/?taken-by=napalandtrust

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🌿📚 Fun Fact Friday: The Golden Fairy Lantern

🌿📚 Fun Fact Friday: The Golden Fairy Lantern ✨

Scientific name: Calochortus amabilis
Also known as: Diogenes' Lantern, Golden Globe Lily, Short Lily

Meet the Golden Fairy Lantern, a captivating wildflower endemic to Northern California. With its nodding, golden-yellow blooms, this plant brings a touch of enchantment to Napa’s spring landscapes. Though typically golden in color, rarer orange or reddish variations have been spotted in the wild.

🌿 Where It Grows:
Calochortus amabilis is native to Napa, Sonoma, Lake, Mendocino, and Solano counties. It thrives in chaparral, oak woodlands, and mixed evergreen forests, and is well-adapted to open, dry areas with well-drained or serpentine soils.

🌼 Bloom Time:
Depending on elevation and climate, this perennial blooms from April through June.

🧬 Cool Science Fact:
The lantern-shaped flowers hang facing downward, shielding their reproductive parts from rain and harsh sunlight. The petals are lined with fine, silky hairs, releasing a subtle scent that attracts native bees and beetles. This species also thrives in serpentine soils, which are notoriously nutrient-poor, making this wildflower a symbol of resilience and ecological specialization in California’s plant communities.

✨ Did You Know?
The Latin name amabilis means “lovely” or “pleasing”—a perfect match for this glowing gem. The common name "Diogenes' Lantern" refers to the Greek philosopher Diogenes, who famously carried a lantern during the day in search of truth.

The Kashaya Pomo people traditionally used the bulbs of this plant as a food source, roasting or boiling them like small potatoes—a reminder of the deep relationships between native plants and Indigenous cultures.

Next time you're hiking in Napa, keep an eye out—you might spot one of these golden lanterns glowing at your feet. 💛

#FunFactFriday #GoldenFairyLantern #CalochortusAmabilis #NativePlants #CaliforniaFlora #NapaNature #ConservationInBloom #LTNC #WildflowerWonder #DiogenesLantern

🌿 Wildflower Wonder 💜 Spring is painting th

🌿 Wildflower Wonder 💜

Spring is painting the land with lupine! These native blooms make us smile, support pollinators, and remind us why land conservation matters.

#NapaLandTrust #Lupine #NativeFlowers #LandProtection #Conservation #WildflowerWonder

🐾🌒 A Rare Smile from the Shadows 🐾🌒 L

🐾🌒 A Rare Smile from the Shadows 🐾🌒

Look who showed up grinning for our wildlife camera! This puma was captured on one of our remote cameras as part of our ongoing Wildlife Picture Index (WPI) project—a science-driven effort to monitor the health of wildlife populations right here in Napa County.

📸 These motion-triggered cameras help us understand which species are using the land, when, and how. Each image—like this gem—feeds into long-term conservation strategies that protect habitat and biodiversity across the region.

🌿 Pumas (also known as mountain lions or cougars) are apex predators that play a vital role in ecosystem balance. Their presence is a positive indicator of a healthy, functioning natural landscape. Our work helps ensure they continue to roam freely in wild places.

🔗 To learn more about our WPI project—or to see more images from our cameras—visit:
👉 https://napalandtrust.org/our-work/wildlife-picture-index-project/

#MountainLionMonday #MondayMotivation #LTNC #NapaNature #PumaPresence #WPIProject #TrailCam #WildlifeMonday #ConservationMatters #ApexPredator #WildlifeConservation #NapaLandTrust #ProtectWildPlaces #NatureInNapa #WildlifeCooridors

🌿📚 Fun Fact Friday: Fringed Checkerbloom 🌸

Say hello to the fabulous Fringed checkerbloom (Sidalcea diploscypha) — a true California native wildflower that’s as tough as it is beautiful.

This annual wildflower is endemic to California, thriving on grassy slopes, open woodlands, and valleys throughout the Sierra Nevada foothills, Central Coast Ranges, and the Central Valley. It’s a local legend in the spring wildflower scene — and here's why:

🌸 Each flower flaunts delicately fringed or lacy petals, giving it a signature look that sets it apart from other checkerblooms.

🦋 A favorite among native bees and butterflies, providing a vital nectar source in early spring.

🌞 As an annual, Fringed checkerbloom puts on a bold display from March through May, carpeting meadows in vivid pink.

🧪 Hairy stems and leaves help reduce moisture loss — nature’s sun protection.

🧬 A proud member of the mallow family (Malvaceae) — yes, it’s related to hibiscus and even okra!

🌼 Grow it at home:

If you're in California, this wildflower is a garden gem. It loves full sun, thrives in dry, well-drained soil, and supports pollinators without needing much in return.

💧Pair it with other spring natives to build a layered, pollinator-friendly garden that supports biodiversity and stuns visually.

#NapaLandTrust #FunFactFriday #FringedCheckerbloom #SidalceaDiploscypha #CaliforniaNativePlants #NativePlantLove #BotanyIsCool #WildflowerSeason #PlantNatives #PollinatorFriendly #WildflowerWisdom #MalvaceaeMagic

🌼 Just Added! Explore Vernal Pools at Mead Ranc

🌼 Just Added! Explore Vernal Pools at Mead Ranch Hike

Join us Sunday, May 18, for a rare spring hike at our Mead Ranch Preserve to witness vernal pools, ephemeral blooms, and wildflowers that emerge only after the rains.

This outing offers a fleeting glimpse of one of Napa’s hidden natural wonders—and it will fill up fast, so sign up today!

📅 Sunday, May 18
🔗 Learn more and sign up: https://napalandtrust.org/event/mead-vernal-pools-2/

#NapaNature #LandTrustHike #VernalPools #WildflowerHike #NapaValley #SpringInNapa #NapaLandTrust

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