About the cover: Death Valley, one of the hottest places on Earth and home to more than 1000 species of plants, including more than 50 endemics, received record amounts of rain during the winters of 2004 and 2005. Through March of 2005, more than 8 inches of rain fell—4 times the yearly average of only 1.96 inches. Dormant seeds of various desert flowers germinated and flourished at record levels. This photograph was taken during one of these record rainfalls in March 2005.