Unsung Heroes of the Desert

Moonflowers

It took me 20+ years of living in the desert to get really curious about how the native species found ways of surviving it.
I began to get more and more curious about the idea of not just surviving… but THRIVING in the desert.

The most audacious of these thrivers, to me, was the exotic and very seductive moonflower.
With little to no water, and an unrelenting sun…how did she come to be?

These moonflowers, with their verdant green foliage, luscious white blossoms and plum sized seed pods - they just don’t seem to belong.
They gave me a big ole sparkly glimmer, and tugged me into the dark side of pollination.

Nightlife

If you think about ways to thrive in the desert, it starts to become clear that the first level of defense is against that unrelenting sun mentioned above.
What better way to defend against the sun, than to embrace the night?

So many creatures that live in the desert seem to thrive in the night.
Namely, bats and moths. The unsung heroes of the night shift.

Because of this, many desert blooms have features that appeal to the nocturnal pollinators.
This includes moonflowers, many species of cactus, and another special favorite of mine - the yucca.

Nocturnal Pollinators

Studies have shown that moths' transport networks are larger and more complex than those of daytime pollinators - such as bees.
Researchers believe that moths complement the work of daytime pollinators and help keep plant populations diverse and abundant.

While out and about in Moab's wild & beautiful scenery, if you happen to see a Moonflower, Yucca or Cactus Bloom - thank a moth!