A STORM IN THE DESERT

It doesn't happen often, but every once in a while, the Sonoran Desert gets hit with a winter storm. About a year ago, on February 20, 2013, it happened again. The temperature dropped, the winds kicked up, and snow fell on the saguaros. It was a scene straight out of a John Denver song. A PORTFOLIO EDITED BY JEFF KIDA PRECEDING PANEL: Snow blankets saguaros and other desert plants at Lost Dutchman State Park, east of Phoenix. While snow fell in desert areas just outside the city, Phoenix itself hasn't seen measurable snow since 0.1 inches fell there in 1985. PAUL GILL CAMERA: Canon EOS 5D Mark III; SHUTTER: 1/10 sec; APERTURE: f/22; ISO: 100; FOCAL LENGTH: 105 mm

CAMERA: Nikon D800E; SHUTTER: 1/10 sec; APERTURE: f/20; ISO: 100; FOCAL LENGTH: 85 mm Snow sticks to the needles of chollas at Lost Dutchman State Park. PAUL GILL CAMERA: Canon EOS 5D Mark III; SHUTTER: 1/4 sec; APERTURE: f/22; ISO: 100; FOCAL LENGTH: 18 mm

Snow begins to melt from the arm bud of a saguaro at Honey Bee Canyon Park, near Tucson. JACK DYKINGA CAMERA: Nikon D800E; SHUTTER: 1/13 sec; APERTURE: f/22; ISO: 100; FOCAL LENGTH: 185 mm First light warms saguaros and other desert plants in the Tucson Mountains, west of the city. RANDY PRENTICE