Valentine's Weekend! Opening Celebration for Wildflowers of the Napa Valley

Spring comes early on Saturday evening of Valentine's Day Weekend 2025, with an Opening Celebration for our new Main Gallery exhibition: Sophie Alstrom Mitchell: Wildflowers of the Napa Valley.

Swing your sweetheart - or your sweet self - on the dance floor to the jazzy music of the Paper Moon trio, sample great Napa Valley wines and light bites, enjoy our outdoor patio (weather permitting), or simply stroll among the lush botanical flowers blooming on our Main Gallery walls.

The exhibition features sixty-four works from our permanent collection by this noted 19th century Napa Valley artist, plus some rare treasures from our archive, many of which will be exhibited together for the first time. They pay tribute to the talent and meticulous attention to detail of a sweet, quiet and humble local minister's wife who raised two sons, and helped run the family prune and walnut orchard, while artfully preserving for all time the wild beauty and diversity of the region's native uncultivated flowers.

Museum Members may also preview the exhibition on Friday February 14 from 1 to 4 pm at a Free Member Preview.

Sophie Alstrom Mitchell (born Sophie Marie Nordstrom, 1858, in Sweden) moved to St Helena in 1866. Growing up at the White Sulphur Springs Hotel owned by her mother and stepfather Sven Ahlstrom, she developed a keen interest in native wildflowers. Later, romance blossomed into marriage between Sophie and the Rev. James Mitchell (founder of St Helena’s First Presbyterian Church), who gathered blooms on his travels across the valley and delivered them to his wife for paintings. The result was a series of skillful and colorful masterpieces showcasing

Tickets include admission to “Wildflowers” plus music, dancing, wine tastings and light bites. This is not a seated concert; limited seating will be available on the patio.

Prices: $25 museum members (verification required); $35 general admission. Tickets do not cover the costs of our programs; please consider making a tax deductible donation.

Proceeds benefit the Museum’s nonprofit arts and education programs. Ample free parking. Must be 21 or more to attend.

The Napa Valley Museum Yountville is located at 55 Presidents Circle in Yountville and is open Thursdays through Sundays from 10 to 4 pm. The Museum is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the cultural fabric of our community through exhibitions, collections, educational programs and creative activities that promote knowledge and understanding of art, nature and history. For more information, call 707.944.0500, email info@napavalleymuseum.org, or visit our website at www.napavalleymuseum.org.

the art of watercolor as well as the rich diversity of Napa Valley’s botanical offerings.