January 20, 2008 - Winter Desert Welcome to the Nature Notebook. When we think of deserts we usually envision shifting sands, dry climate, and cactus. So how can Pennsylvania be like a desert? While we might not have the typical characteristics of Death Valley, cold winters do make Pennsylvania a functional desert. Winter frost, snow and ice lock up moisture in and on the soil. This frozen water is not available to plants during the winter months, just as water is not available most of the time in deserts. Most trees and shrubs have adapted to this lack of water by losing their leaves each fall. Others have thin, wax-coated leaves to minimize water loss and freezing. These are the pines, spruces and firs. Deciduous trees survive by going dormant in the winter until warmer temperatures and spring snowmelt or rain puts an end to our winter desert. This is PPL's naturalist, Jon Beam, with the Nature Notebook for WVIA.