I have taken to hiking Palm Canyon in the Anza Borrego Desert every year right after New Year. I skipped 2011, and in 2013 I didn’t go in January, but on March 10.

On January 3, 2010, I noticed a brand new stand of palm trees developing. I took a picture and marked the spot (click to enlarge):

When I came back on January 7, 2012, here is the identical view:

Then I came back on March 10, 2013. Here is the view now:

And here, for scale, with proud daddy: