Thursday, February 9, 2012

Hoarfrost

Last Saturday we awoke to hoarfrost. I learned that it forms when the air is very moist or foggy and the temperature then drops below freezing. When the moisture in the air touches something - anything - it freezes in place.

The azalea buds, which form in the fall, have been growing, encouraged by our warm days. I hope the cold snap keeps them from opening prematurely. 

The barberry shrubs are a favorite photo subject after it snows. It was more difficult to capture the frost, and I was using the newer camera, which I haven't yet mastered. Time to reread a few sections of the manual!


Even the wind chime had its share of hoarfrost. Was it just me, or did the tiny ice formations seemed especially dagger-like and ferocious this time?

The prodigious blogger Connie, aka Far Side of Fifty, had posted especially striking pictures of frost and fog in northern Minnesota just the day before I took these.




15 comments:

Far Side of Fifty said...

You did great with that new camera! Your hoarfrost is lovely! I love the frost..it gave purpose to some dreary days around here..
I am not prodigious..just wordy..but thanks for the compliment! :)

Marie Loerzel said...

I never heard that term before. Absolutely gorgeous pictures!

DJan said...

Simply beautiful! I see you put the hoarfrost on your header picture, too. I am in love with the beauty of it, and you're right: daggers! Ferocious but melt with a bit of warm breath...

Chantel said...

Ferocious is the perfect description--and yet lovely in the same moment! I have a rather difficult time appreciating the cold, and this morning you've made me do so! :)

Red said...

Excellent frost shots. I also appreciate that it takes a good eye and effort in the cold to get these photos.

Ellen said...

My gosh your photos are awesome. I think you've done a fabulous job. I just wish I could photograph like this. It really makes me appreciate the frost. I don't do cold well and I especially didn't like living through the ice storm five years ago. But just getting to sit back in my nice warm weather and look at these beautiful pictures makes me smile! Thanks.

Rubye Jack said...

I'd never heard the term hoarfrost before either. Well, it certainly looks like we'll be getting some tonight as the air is wet and it is supposed to be around 20 I believe.

These are beautiful pictures!

Sally Wessely said...

These are really beautiful. I'm just thankful I didn't have to suffer the cold weather in order to see them.

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

It does look rather wicked- especially the second photo- Great pictures!

Green Monkey said...

gorgeous! I never heard of "hoarfrost" especially loved the barberry shrub photo.

Indigo Roth said...

Awesome photos Nancy!

Deb Shucka said...

Gorgeous pictures! Incredible phenomenon.

Daughter Number Three said...

That was a beautiful day. Thanks for documenting it.

Jeanie said...

These are stunning photographs. I remember first hearing the term hoar frost from my dad as a younger person and thought it was Whore Frost, which seemed like a terrible name. But it is indeed beautiful. Hope your blooms aren't damanged. We're worrying about that here in Michigan, too.

Marion Williams-Bennett said...

I've never seen hoarfrost, it's absolutely beautiful1 Great job capturing it's wonder.

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