WINTER WONDERLAND

With recent temperatures hinting at an early spring, the valley's record-setting December 2008 snowstorm seems like a lifetime ago.

We don't blame you if you can't remember what a palm tree drooping under the weight of six inches of snow looks like; we're having trouble recalling that image, too.

Luckily, we asked readers to send us their favorite photos of winter in Las Vegas and, not surprisingly, last year's snowstorm turned out to be the dominant theme. Readers sent us more than 300 photographs documenting the snow in all of its various stages: falling, covering the ground, and blanketing cars, patios, pools and cactuses.

Selecting our favorite was difficult, because many readers sent in pictures of near-professional quality. Our favorite photo came from Keith Gronquist, 64, of Las Vegas. Gronquist wins $100 for his photo of a snow-covered Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area on a sunny day.

Unfortunately, we can't run every photo, but we selected several photos that we thought best represented winter in Las Vegas.