Have you ever seen a frost flower?
They are absolutely beautiful!
Frost flowers develop when air temperatures are freezing but the ground still is warm enough for the plant’s root system to be active. Plant juices flow from these roots up into the stem, where the cold air freezes them. As the moisture in the plant freezes, the ice crystals push out through the stem. They may emerge from a small slit to form thin ribbonlike strands or they may split open a whole section of the stem and push out in a thin, curling sheet. Sometimes several ribbons of ice push out to create a flowerlike petal effect. As long as the juices flow, air temperatures remain low, and the plant is shaded from the sun, these ice crystals continue to form.
Only a few species of plants are capable of producing these icy creations, and since their formation and disappearance cover such a short period of time each year, few people have seen them or even know of their existence. I'm lucky enough to have them all over my yard and I freeze my butt off every morning just to get a look at the new ones before the sun melts them.
Here's some from yesterday morning
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UPDATE
11/14/2012
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2 years later, we live in a different house but are lucky enough to find them here as well!
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Wow! I've never heard of these- so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThats cool. How are you all doing? Miss you tons. Hopefully we can get together soon so you can finally meet Miss Payton.
ReplyDeleteOMG i have never heard of these!! Very cool! and look at you-lucky enough to have them in your own backyard!! :D
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