Aetna Springs — Land Trust of Napa County

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📚🐸 Fun Fact Friday: Meet the Foothill Yellow

📚🐸 Fun Fact Friday: Meet the Foothill Yellow-legged Frog 🐸📚

Did you know that the Rana boylii, commonly known as the Foothill Yellow-legged Frog, is vital to Napa County's freshwater ecosystems? This little frog might not be a household name, but it's a local legend in Napa County—an important species we’re working hard to protect.

Here are some fascinating facts about this threatened amphibian:

🌿 Rana boylii can be found in clean, flowing, rocky streams and rivers, typically in forested or chaparral-covered foothills.

🐸 It's native to parts of Oregon and California, including populations right here in Napa County.

🔎 They are small but mighty! Adults range from 1.5 to 3.2 inches long.

🐸 Mottled gray, olive, or brown on top—with vibrant yellow on the underside of their thighs (hence the name!).

🧬 Breeding happens in late spring to early summer when females lay egg masses on submerged rocks.

🐸 Each mass can hold up to 2,500 eggs.

💧 Tadpoles take up to 3–4 months to develop into frogs, depending on stream temperature and flow.

🚨 This species faces serious threats from habitat loss, dams, pollution, invasive species, disease (especially the chytrid fungus), and climate change.

📉 Multiple populations are now listed as Threatened or Endangered at both state and federal levels.

💚 Why It Matters:

Healthy frog populations mean clean water and thriving ecosystems. By protecting Rana boylii, we help safeguard Napa’s streams, native wildlife, and biodiversity.

We’re proud to support habitat restoration and waterway conservation to help this iconic amphibian thrive! 🐸💧

📸 Photo by LTNC Stewardship Director, Mike Palladini

#FunFactFriday #NapaWildlife #FoothillYellowLeggedFrog #RanaBoylii #SaveTheFrogs #LTNC #ConservationHeroes #NapaNature #NativeSpecies #BiodiversityMatters

🌿 Celebrating International Day for Biological

🌿 Celebrating International Day for Biological Diversity 🌿

Today, we join the global community in honoring the intricate web of life surrounding us. Biodiversity isn't just about the variety of species; it's about the relationships that sustain our ecosystems, communities, and future.

Why Biodiversity Matters to Napa County:

🌲 Resilient Ecosystems: Diverse habitats like our forests and watersheds support many species, ensuring ecosystem stability.

💧 Watersheds: Healthy, biodiverse landscapes naturally filter water, reduce erosion, and maintain the quality and flow of our creeks and rivers, ensuring clean water for people, wildlife, and agriculture.

☀️ Climate Resilience: Diverse landscapes act as natural buffers against climate extremes, protecting our communities.

Our Commitment:

🛡️ We've permanently protected 96,000 acres of land throughout Napa County and have a robust land stewardship program. Each protected acre is a step toward a more resilient future.

Join Us:

🤝 Your actions make a difference. Whether it's supporting local conservation efforts, planting native species, or educating others about the importance of biodiversity, every step counts.

Let’s continue working together to ensure Napa’s natural beauty and ecological richness thrive for future generations.🌲

#NapaLandTrust #ProtectNapaNature #Biodiverstity #BiodiversityDay2025 #LandProtection #Conservation

Happy Monday! Let’s start the week like these w

Happy Monday!

Let’s start the week like these wildflowers—reaching for the sun and thriving in unexpected places. 🌿💜

#MondayMotivation #NatureInspires #NapaLandTrust #LandTrustLife #LandProtection #Wildflowers

🌸 Fun Fact Friday: Shooting Star 🌸 Shooting

🌸 Fun Fact Friday: Shooting Star 🌸

Shooting Star (Dodecatheon hendersonii – also known as Primula hendersonii) is one of California’s most whimsical native wildflowers.

With backward-swept petals and bold central cones, they resemble little stars falling from the sky.

These fascinating blooms rely on buzz pollination, where native bumblebees vibrate the flower to shake out pollen. Talk about teamwork!

🌿 You’ll find them blooming from February to May in moist grasslands, foothills, and oak woodlands. By early summer, they vanish entirely, going dormant underground until the following spring.

🎨 Their colors range from lavender and magenta to white, often with a vibrant yellow "eye" near the center. Their aerodynamic design isn’t just pretty—it's perfectly shaped for pollination by their bee partners.

💡 Despite their fragile appearance, they’re a hardy symbol of California’s native floral diversity—and a seasonal favorite for pollinators.

🌼 Bonus Bloom shown pictured here with the Shooting Star: California Saxifrage (Saxifraga californica)

This dainty wildflower with small, white, star-like petals is often blooming nearby. It thrives in moist, rocky habitats—streambanks, canyon walls, and shady granite outcrops.

Saxifraga means "rock breaker" in Latin, a nod to the tough mountain homes these plants anchor themselves in. Not bad for such a delicate-looking bloom.

📍 Watch for both on spring hikes, they’re fleeting but unforgettable.

#FunFactFriday #ShootingStarFlower #Dodecatheon #PrimulaHendersonii #CaliforniaWildflowers #BuzzPollination #CaliforniaNativePlants #SaxifragaCalifornica #GreeneSaxifrage #SpringWildflowers #PollinatorFriendly #Conservation #NapaLandTrust

🌿 Protecting Napa, Preserving Our Future 🌿

🌿 Protecting Napa, Preserving Our Future 🌿

Napa County’s landscapes are more than just breathtaking views—they are home to diverse wildlife, rare species, rich agricultural heritage, and essential water resources. Since 1976, the Land Trust of Napa County has permanently protected 96,000 acres—ensuring these lands remain wild, thriving, and resilient for future generations.

Through conservation easements, land acquisitions, and land stewardship, we safeguard the places that make Napa unique, special and even rare. From restoring native habitats to reducing wildfire risks, our stewardship programs ensure that protected lands remain healthy and vibrant.

💚 Join us in preserving Napa’s natural legacy! Support conservation through donations, memberships, or volunteering—because the land that sustains us all deserves to be protected.

🔗 Learn more & get involved: napalandtrust.org

#NapaLandTrust #ConservationMatters #ProtectNapa #WildForever #LandStewardship #LandProtection #ProtecWhatYouLove

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