Helping you care for our land, water, soil, and wildlife
Napa RCD Weekly Activity Digest - 13th Edition

Greetings from Napa RCD!

No spine? No problem! This week we focus on invertebrates! Invertebrates are wildlife that lack backbones or vertebrae. They play critical roles in our ecosystems, like pollinating many of our flowering plants, providing food for a multitude of larger wildlife, and enhancing soil health.
 
Around 80% of all species on the planet are invertebrates . Although many invertebrates are small in size, they play a huge role in sustaining life on earth. In Napa County, invertebrates live in diverse habitats, from creeks and oceans to trees, flowers, and even inside your own home!

This week, we are sharing a selection of activities to help you connect with the invertebrates in your watershed. A special treat this week is an activity designed for you by our Education Team to explore invertebrates in local trees!

Don’t forget to let us know what you are discovering by tagging us on social media @NapaRCD and #WILDnapa, or emailing Education@NapaRCD.org.


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Many thanks to the following education and outreach activity sponsors for their support: NOAA, County of Napa, Napa County Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program, City of Napa, the Watershed Information and Conservation Council, and Friends of the Napa River.
Invertebrates and Trees
Try this Tree Habitat and Invertebrate Study with Napa RCD Staff to see what kinds of bugs are living in trees and shrubs in your neighborhood. Use a bucket, pillow-case, net, or trash bag to reveal a hidden world of bug diversity. Do different types of trees have different types of bugs? Do trees near the River have more or less bugs than trees in your neighborhood? How could you answer these questions? Click on the link to find out!
Build a Bug Bungalow
Follow this guide to make a bug bungalow in your backyard or neighborhood and observe the various critters that take up residence over tim e. If you're really ambitious, keep it going and see how the bugs change as the seasons change!
Nature Journal Prompt
Exploring the Nature Within

With so much going on in the world around us, it is a great time for some reflection. Time to absorb what may be happening within ourselves. Maybe there is a space within you that you haven’t visited in a while or even discovered yet, and maybe familiar spaces are different since you last checked in. Nature journaling can be a great way to explore your inside world as well as the outside world.

For this journal exercise, find a nature scene that speaks to you. If you’re limited on time or access to the outdoors, Unsplash has amazing nature photographs for inspiration! Sketch or describe this place in your nature journal.

Then, sit or wander in your nature scene, taking notice of any feelings or thoughts that come up. What are your favorite parts of your landscape? Are you feeling drawn to or connected to anything in particular? What parts of yourself are feeling especially connected?

Spend some time exploring your scene and your reactions to what you are experiencing. What new discoveries are you making about your inner nature?
FREE Native Plants
Free native plants grown by the Napa Youth Stewardship Council (NYSC) are now available!

A mix of native flowering species are available. All of the species will provide resources for pollinators and enhance the biodiversity of your landscape.

Please take as many as you will be able to keep thriving. Plants should be placed where you do not apply pesticides. Visit OurWaterOurWorld.org to find non-toxic solutions to all kinds of pest problems.

Pickup Location: Plants are available now at 1303 Jefferson St., Napa. Walk to rear of the building via the north parking lot, they are under a Japanese maple. If you'd like more information about the care of plants that are available, Check CalScape.org .

Want to support youth growing native plants for the community? Consider making a donation to support the 6th year of NYSC at NapaRCD.org/donate.
Weekly Nature Nugget
This week, we found a couple of chaparral lilies in the eastern part of Napa County! The chaparral lily ( Lilium rubescens ), also commonly called the redwood lily, is very tall and changes color as it goes through the season, from white to pink. For more information on chaparral lilies, visit CalFlora or iNaturalist .
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Napa County Resource Conservation District | 707-252-4189 | NapaRCD.org