Photo Left: Hoarfrost on bush branches at my parents in Minnesota. As far as I know and can remember, I don't recall ever seeing hoarfrost other than growing on window panes and car windshields. Perhaps I never paid attention. But, these beautiful water crystals remind me of miniature ice ferns. Here's one of Wikimedia Commons' latest Creative Commons photos of one to end the winter season. What beauty. Plus, they're fantastic examples of fractals in nature. I've been in Minnesota visiting my parents now since January. It has been a pretty cold, windy and snowy winter, as can be expected in the Midwest, US. My mother told me about some of the wonderful hoarfrosts they get and that I should be alert to see it. One morning, she told me that the hoarfrost was out. I grabbed my camera and caught only a few just OKAY shots of the ice ferns. It's quite a phenomena. If I had a macro camera lens, I could have done better. I love macro photography too, so, it was tough to not be able to get some really close beautiful shots like the one from Wikimedia commons above. Here's Kenneth Libbrecht's explanation about hoarfrost: "When frost forms as minute ice crystals covering the ground, we just call it all frost. But sometimes the frost grains grow larger and are called hoarfrost crystals. Good hoarfrost is not that uncommon if you watch for it. Hoarfrost grows whenever it's cold outside and there is a ample source of water vapor nearby." He's a snow physicist and he has one of my favorite websites about snow crystals at Snow Crystals.com. Photo Left: My adopted Spruce tree. Also, while I've been here, I recently adopted a beautiful spruce tree in my parents front yard. Isn't it lovely?! It's just a delightful size and shape. I'm really enjoying observing it everyday as it's going through the winter season.
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AuthorI'm Natureglo, founder of Natureglo's eScience! I'm an avid nature lover, photographer, hiker, full time camper and an online teacher. Categories
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