I’ve always wondered what Sierra junipers look like in winter. We often hear about how alpine trees are “buried in snow” through the winter months, but I hadn’t seen this first hand.

After many visits to see these giant, natural bonsai over the years, I recently had the opportunity to see them after an early snow.

Some trees, like the Sierra juniper below, are situated where little snow had accumulated.

Semi-cascade Sierra juniper after early snow

Other trees lived where more snow had piled up.

Sierra juniper in the snow

Deadwood detail

I found it fascinating to see how the older foliage was covered in snow while the younger tips continued to catch the sunlight.

Juniper foliage in snow

The effect was the same for lodgepole pines.

Lodgepole pine foliage

Some of the most beautiful scenes were created by water and snow that had frozen directly onto the trees and rocks near which they grew.

Sierra juniper on an exposed rock

Twisty juniper encrusted with snow

Awesome movement!

And not far away, other trees showed almost no signs of the season.

Snow on foliage but not on the trunk

One day I hope to get back to these trees in the thick of winter – but I’ll need warmer clothes for that.

Happy to see such beautiful trees