In a charred moonscape, a band of hopeful workers try to save the Joshua tree

In a charred moonscape, a band of hopeful workers try to save the Joshua tree Enlarge this image toggle caption Krystal Ramirez for NPR Krystal Ramirez for NPR "The Country since leaving the Colorado has been a dry rocky sandy Barren desert." Enlarge this image toggle caption Krystal Ramirez for NPR Krystal Ramirez for NPR What she means is the park's dense Joshua tree forests may never come back after a fire. Enlarge this image toggle caption Krystal Ramirez for NPR Krystal Ramirez for NPR "Unfortunately, restoring Joshua trees is more of an art than a science, and sometimes it works out really well and sometimes it doesn't," Hughson says. Enlarge this image toggle caption Krystal Ramirez for NPR Krystal Ramirez for NPR "It's a tale of failed experiments," Hughson says.