Gabriola frost flowerDid you know that frost flowers are all over the Gabriola woods these days? They’re gorgeous. Get up early on a cold day if you want to see them, and head to a place where alders or maple trees grow. If the conditions are just right, you’ll be rewarded with much frosty beauty.

And what are frost flowers? Wikipedia explains:

Frost flowers is the name commonly given to a condition in which thin layers of ice are extruded from long-stemmed plants in autumn or early winter. The thin layers of ice are often formed into exquisite patterns that curl into “petals” that resemble flowers.

The formation of frost flowers, also known as ice flowers, is apparently dependent on a freezing weather condition occurring when the ground is not already frozen. The sap in the stem of the plants will expand (water expands when frozen), causing long, thin cracks to form along the length of the stem. Water is then drawn through these cracks via capillary action and freezes upon contact with the air. As more water is drawn through the cracks it pushes the thin ice layers further from the stem, causing a thin petal to form. In the case of woody plants and (living or dead) tree branches the freezing water is squeezed through the pores of the plant forming long thin strings of ice that look uncannily like hair i.e. frost beard.

The petals of frost flowers are very delicate and will break when touched. They usually melt or sublimate when exposed to sunlight and are usually visible in the early morning or in shaded areas. [continue]