Sunrise on the Maumee

Sunrise on the Maumee

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Frost Flowers


     Eileen Sawyer is an amateur naturalist who volunteers for the Toledo Area Metroparks by leading the vernal pool monitoring program.  She has kindly consented to sharing these photos of frost flowers she took last week.  You can see them at the base of this plant.


     Frost flowers are formed when cold temperatures cause cracks in plant stems, allowing sap or water (propelled by capillary action) to extrude slowly and freeze. 


     They do not last for more than a few hours, fading away with the sun's rays.  You can learn more (and see more beautiful photos) by watching this youtube video or reading this website.

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