Hoar Frost: Close Up of Delicate Crystals

Seen through a macro lens, hoar frost is amazing, an intricate network of varied ice crystals.

We often get hoar frost on the Prairies, on those winter (and yes, fall and spring, too) days when early morning ice fog condenses, freezes, grows on plants, grasses, trees. But I don't always stop, take a deep breath, and look...

And so today, a couple of images taken with a macro lens (click to enlarge) to show this delicate beauty on a leaf and branches:

Hoar frost growing from a dried leaf.   © SB

Frost on a branch against the winter sky. © SB 

For more pictures — and to see the thumbnails below in more macro-lens detail — see my Hoar Frost Flickr set.

What is this? Macro details of hoar frost.

Location: Near Muenster, Saskatchewan. 

Photo dates:  February 2013

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Hoar Frosted Branches, Sunny Winter Day

This morning, frosty cold weather (-20C), with fog dissipating into sunny skies.

Fog + cold = hoar frost, one of the loveliest parts of winter, when trees coated with ice crystals glitter in sunshine. Here is a sample, from a recent frosty day.

Each branch and twig iced with hoar frost.   © SB

What is this? Another winter scene with hoar-frost coated trees.

Location: Near Muenster, Saskatchewan. 

Photo dates:  February 27, 2013

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Winter Trees: Beauty of Snow and Ice

Late March, and it's still winter on the Prairies. Earlier this evening, I looked out to see huge fluffy snowflakes falling. But there is a beauty to this cold and ice that my warmth-seeking self at times forgets.

Here, a reminder of a day not so long ago when the world glowed — all black and white, in colour.

Down the lane, under ice-tipped trees, winter sparkles.   © SB

What is this? Winter scene, with an arch of hoar-frost coated trees.

Location: Near Muenster, Saskatchewan. 

Photo dates:  February 22, 2013

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