2020-01-06: Juniper bush under a snow-covered rock
This young juniper lost its colors as a protection from the harsh winter weather encountered in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. It chose as location to germinate the relative shelter of a large rock under which humidity is likely to be found even in dry months. Evergreen trees and bushes protect themselves from the cold by moving moisture from their needles towards their core and using waxy coating to further reduce water loss.