Tim Laman / Palm oasis in the desert of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, San Diego County, California, USA, April 2005

Rob Tilley / Soaptree yucca {Yucca elata} plants growing on white sand dunes, White Sands National Park, New Mexico, USA, February 2009

Rob Tilley / Soaptree yucca {Yucca elata} plants growing on white sand dunes, White Sands National Park, New Mexico, USA, February 2009

John Cancalosi / Flat tailed horned lizard {Phrynosoma m'calli} California, USA

Rolf Nussbaumer / Mexican Gold Poppy (Eschscholzia californica mexicana) flowering in spring, Tonto National Forest, Bartlett Lake , Arizona, USA, March

John Cancalosi / Desert Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus magister) Sonoran Desert, Arizona, USA

John Cancalosi / Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox) Arizona, USA

Thomas Lazar / Ripples and ridges in the sands of White Sands National Park with San Andres Mountains on the horizon, Chihuahuan Desert, New Mexico, USA

Shattil & Rozinski / Rock mimulus {Mimulus sp} growing on canyon wall, Death Valley National Monument, California, USA

Shattil & Rozinski / Rock mimulus {Mimulus sp} growing on canyon wall, Death Valley National Monument, California, USA

John Cancalosi / Regal horned lizard. {Phrynosoma solare} Sonoran desert, AZ, USA

John Cancalosi / Western patch nosed snake {Salvadora hexalepis} amongst flowering cactus. Arizona, USA.