...so I took a closer look. Frost! Lots of frost in really interesting patterns on top of the almost-clear ice. Although I don't typically like to do it when it's this cold, I just had to bring the camera outside and get down on the ground.
Sure it was interesting that this sweet flag which the raccoons keep knocking over was frozen and trapped...
...and that there were some nice circular "bubbles" of opaque ice that had formed...
...but the real attractions were the crystals:
There are many different types of ice crystals (I hope you clicked that link -- if not, you're missing out!), and I think these would probably be characterized as "needles", but I'm not sure:
It was the non-spiky parts that intrigued me though:
The more I looked at it, the more I saw...
...tiny snow hills surrounded by frozen waters, little islands of snow.
I can almost see tiny skaters flying around the indigo ice, their blade-etched tracks too small for my eyes to detect.
I'm glad I noticed the pond this morning!
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Awesome! I have seen the frost website before, spending many minutes staring at the beautiful photos - they are so intriguing!
ReplyDeleteI wonder why your pond freezes clear while ours is opaque? Is it because we are running a pump and your water is still? In any case, I'm glad you noticed your pond, too! Thanks for sharing!
These are fantastic photos. I find ice crystals to be incredibly fascinating. But 5°F is s-s-s-s-o-o-o-o cold...
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Thanks for braving the cold to bring us these incredible shots and for the cool link!
ReplyDeleteLove the pictures.. You can keep the cold though, C. marmorea ran 3 feet this winter and I'd like the culms to survive.
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