At The Edge of the Woods

 It was quite foggy this morning. 

I started my day just a bit early in hopes of discovering a few frost flowers on my way to work, but, alas, there were none. 

I think it might have been a tad too warm and way too wet...although...a friend that lives 40-some-miles south of us was posting pics of frost flowers found on her property this morning. Maybe she didn't get as much rain as we did over the weekend? I don't know. 

There were plenty of deer though. I saw at least ten on my way in to work. Most of them were hanging around the campground and picnic area.

I also observed a northern harrier hawk hunting just east of the nature center where I work. I watched it through the big, plate-glass window as it performed it's mesmerizing, acrobatic ritual of gliding down...almost touching its wingtip to the earth...then rising back up in search of prey. 

Photo Credit

This is one of my favorite sights during cold weather months on the tallgrass prairie. I will share more on northern harrier hawks at a later date.

What are some of your favorite sights during cold weather months where you live?

Until next time...

~Rebecca

Recent and related posts that you might enjoy reading...

Prairie At Night

Buffalo? Bison? What's The Difference?

Oh, Deer!

Five Minute Friday: Frost

Cut and pasted from Rebecca's Hearth and Home 12/18/15...



Today's Five Minute Friday assignment was a little different than most weeks. For the final Five Minute Friday of 2015 Kate Motaung let everyone pick their own one-word prompt and the word I chose is frost.

Here's why...

Frost On The Windshield

Upon going out to warm up my van this morning before work, I discovered that, overnight, Jack Frost had completely covered my van windows in an intricate frosty pattern. A few minutes of heat on high and the beautiful artwork of nature gave way to nothing but water droplets that rolled away with a swish of the wiper blades and a rush of wind as I drove out onto the highway.

Frosty-Backed Bison At Prairie State Park

At the park (I work at Prairie State Park in Mindenmines, Missouri), I was greeted by four great beasts, their brown backs white with frost, against a backdrop of white-frosted prairie grasses. Over the crest of the hill and the whole herd of white-backed bison encircled the nature center where I work.

Bison Dot The Landscape At Prairie State Park

As I pulled into the parking lot, the morning sun spilled across the tall grasses, instantly melting the guazy frostiness that only moments before had grasped them in misty whiteness. The massive beasts (bison) that dotted the prairie landscape separated lazily and made their way around and behind the building. With each grunt and snort, the chilly air made their hot breath come out in billowy puffs of icy whiteness.

Frost Flowers At Prairie State Park

As I made my way to the building I noticed that frost flowers were in great abundance in the wildflower garden out front...

Mullin Outlined And Covered In Frost

...and that every plant was outlined and covered, sparkling, and glistening white, with frost.

I love frosty mornings on the prairie and wish that I could share one with YOU! They are soooo beautiful! <3

All My Love,
~Rebecca


For more information about Frost Flowers click: HERE!

Frost Flowers

Frost Flowers

Super cold temperatures have a arrived on southwest Missouri's tallgrass prairie and, with them, an annual event that our family greatly looks forward to each and every autumn. Experiencing the sight of the season's first swirly, twirly, and utterly beautiful frost flowers!

Frost flowers really aren't flowers at all, but are beautiful, delicate ribbons of ice that form on the lower stem of certain native Missouri plants.

Delicate Ribbons Of Ice

Frost flowers occur only in the late fall after the first few hard freezes of the season. Frost flowers are formed when the plants' stems are ruptured by the first hard freeze, yet the root system is still sending up plant sap from the warmer ground. The sap pushes through the broken stem and freezes on contact with the cold air. As more sap moves up the stem, it forces the freezing stream of white ice crystals into ornate and beautifully folded ribbons of frosted swirls.

Ornate And Beautifully Folded Ribbons Of Frosted Swirls

Missouri plants known to produce frost flowers include dittany, stinkweed, and white crownbeard.

A Swirly, Twirly An Utterly Beautiful Frost Flower

If you've not had the pleasure of experiencing your first frost flower, but would like to, it's not too late. I know it's cold, but get out early in the morning before the sun's rays melt the delicate formations away. If you need to know where to go to observe frost flowers locally e-mail me (proverbs31heart@yahoo.com - please put FROST FLOWERS on the subject line) or message me on Facebook (Rebecca Brown Knox). I'll be more than happy to point you in the right direction. :)

Until next time,
~Rebecca

White Crownbeard (Wingstem, Frostweed)

Frost Flower Coloring Sheet

Frost Flower Coloring Sheet - Uncolorc

Today I looked around online to see if I could locate a frost flower coloring sheet for children, and I couldn't. So...I made one. It's not the greatest in the world, but at least it's something. If anyone would like to use it feel free to contact me at proverbs31heart@yahoo.com (please put FROST FLOWER COLORING SHEET on the subject line) and I will send it to you in a PDF.

Frost Flower Coloring Sheet - Colored
(Ignore the strawberry colored frost flower. They don't come in that color, but there's a story behind it. LOL!)

Until next time...
~Rebecca