‘Recognizing the Importance of Sonoran Desert Species’

The community members in Arivaca came together to install native plants such as agave, night blooming yucca, and datura. Tohono O’odham artist Paul ‘Nox’ Pablo painted a stunning mural depicting the nighttime garden species and the plants they rely on. The center panel of the mural features a whirlwind design, a significant symbol in Tohono O’odham culture representing the wind, pollination, and the element of air.

This is not Paul’s first mural in Arivaca; his first piece showcased daytime and nighttime native plants and pollinators in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Endangered Species Act. These murals highlight the cultural and community connections to natural systems and stress the importance of biodiversity.

The Arivaca Pollinator Pathway Project is making a significant impact on the community with the installation of eight public pollinator gardens, funded by the Endangered Species Coalition’s Pollinator Protectors campaign. A new aspect of the project includes registering home gardens and providing free consultations to increase the availability of plants for pollinators and raise awareness of native species among community members.