Mere glimpses of the surreal beauty in late March at “Dagger Flats” in Big Bend National Park, off the main park road, north of Panther Junction, south of Persimmon Gap.

This pocket of giant dagger yuccas is a annual treat each spring (along with smatterings of the other 3 varieties of yuccas found in the Chihuahuan Desert), but this year's batch was especially mindblowing.

We recommend you go all the way out to the end of the 5-mile road, and that you splurge ($1) for the written guide available at the box at the beginning of the road, as it’s really well done and informative.

In any case, here are some images to savor. (Photos by Marlys Hersey & John Waters.)