Chiles Valley — Land Trust of Napa County

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🌼 Just Added! Explore Vernal Pools at Mead Ranc

🌼 Just Added! Explore Vernal Pools at Mead Ranch Hike

Join us Saturday, 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!

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

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

🌿 A Wild Symphony in Bloom 💜 High above the

🌿 A Wild Symphony in Bloom 💜

High above the valley floor, spring is showing off her palette. Native Sonoma sage (Salvia sonomensis) and Hollyleaf ceanothus (Ceanothus purpureus) thrive in this sun-kissed chaparral, their lavender and violet blooms offering vital nectar for pollinators and a feast for the senses.⁠

These resilient natives don't just add beauty to the landscape—they stabilize soils, support biodiversity, and remind us why protecting wild places matters.

💜Ceanothus purpureus is more than beautiful—it’s rare. This species is endemic to Northern California and is ranked 1B.2 by the California Native Plant Society, meaning it’s rare, threatened, or endangered in California and elsewhere. With its limited range in Napa and Sonoma Counties, its survival depends on healthy chaparral ecosystems like those we protect.

📍Napa County’s ridgelines are alive with color—and with your support, they’ll stay that way.

#NapaNature #SonomaSage #CeanothusPurpureus #NativePlants #LandTrust #WildflowerSeason #HabitatRestoration #PollinatorPathways #ConservationInAction #NatureHeals #NapaLandTrust #WildNapa

🌼🦌 Happy Monday from the Wild Side! This s

🌼🦌 Happy Monday from the Wild Side!

This sweet fawn, captured by one of our remote wildlife cameras, reminds us that every day is a fresh start in nature. 🦌💚

Little ones like this have a safe place to grow and thrive thanks to land conservation. Here’s to protecting the wild beauty of Napa—today and every day.

#HappyMonday #NapaWildlife #NatureInNapa #FawnLove #WPI #WildlifePictureIndex #ProtectWhatYouLove #NapaLandTrust

📚🌼Fun Fact Friday: Checker Lily 🌼 Say h

📚🌼Fun Fact Friday: Checker Lily 🌼

Say hello to the captivating Checker Lily (Fritillaria affinis), a springtime gem native to the western landscapes of North America. Fritillaria affinis, sometimes called the chocolate lily, is a highly variable species of flowering plant in the lily family Liliaceae. 🌿

🗺️This perennial beauty thrives from British Columbia through California, extending eastward to Idaho and Montana. You'll find it gracing open woodlands, grassy slopes, and coastal bluffs, flourishing from sea level up to 5,000 feet in elevation.

🌼 The Checker Lily showcases its nodding, bell-shaped flowers from March through June, depending on local conditions.

🎨 Its flowers display a mesmerizing mix of brownish-purple, green, and yellow, often adorned with intricate mottled patterns.

🌸Grows from a bulb composed of rice grain-like bulblets, a characteristic that earned it the nickname "rice-root".

🌼After blooming, the plant enters a summer dormancy, retreating underground to conserve energy.

🌿 The flowers are a valuable nectar source for native pollinators, including bees.

🌱🌼 Conservation Note: While not currently listed as endangered, the Checker Lily's habitats are susceptible to disturbances. Protecting these areas ensures that this unique species continues to enchant future generations.

Next time you're out exploring, watch for this understated yet remarkable lily. Its subtle beauty is a testament to nature's intricate designs.

#FunFactFriday #CheckerLily #FritillariaAffinis #NativePlants #SpringBlooms #ConservationMatters #WildflowerWonder #NapaLandTrust

📢 We’re Hiring! Are you a creative storytell

📢 We’re Hiring!

Are you a creative storyteller who’s passionate about nature and conservation? Join us at Napa Land Trust as our new Communications Coordinator!

This is a meaningful opportunity for someone who loves storytelling, believes in the power of nature to inspire, and wants to put their communications skills to work protecting one of the most biodiverse places in the world — Napa County.

As part of our team, you’ll help shape the voice of a mission-driven organization working to protect and steward the lands that make Napa County so special. From social media and newsletters to event support and public relations, your work will directly connect people to the land we all love. 💚

✨ You’ll thrive in this role if you’re:
• A compelling writer and visual communicator
• Skilled in digital marketing and design tools
• Excited to engage with the community
• Passionate about conservation

📍 Based in Napa, CA, this is a chance to work with a collaborative, purpose-driven team and make a real, lasting impact every day.

🔗 Learn more and apply at: napalandtrust.org/about-us/careers

#NowHiring #ConservationCareers #CommunicationsCoordinator #NatureJobs #NapaLandTrust

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