Snow in Joshua Tree National Park

Many people think of the desert as a hot, barren place. The desert has seasons. In springtime cactus flowers bloom after a heavy rain, starting at the lower elevations. By May the blossoms begin to die although there are late-bloomers at higher elevations. Desert flora takes on a browner tone in summer. Heat rises from the pavement in shimmering waves.

In fall, the skies are blue and blustery. Puffy white clouds appear. In winter, the shadows grow longer under the vivid sky. Some years, snow falls in the desert. The whiteness makes the landscape look surreal. It's weird to see a snow-covered Joshua tree. Weirder still to make a desert snowman (isn't that an oxymoron?)

Photos, Christmas 2004: snow in Joshua Tree National Park