Comments on: Frost in the Garden

By: healingmagichands

healingmagichands — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 16:24:46 +0000

Saxon, when compounds crystallize (which of course is what water is doing when it freezes) they are very opportunistic about what they use as the “seed” for the crystal. H2O has a 120 degree symmetry in the molecule and can stack itself in several ways, so it can follow the contours of the “template” it has chosen.

Have you ever seen frost flowers? These are structures that form on certain plants when the weather gets cold and they are still running sap. Often these amazing curled “flowers” show up at the leaf axils on frosty fall mornings. There are some great images here: http://www.its.caltech.edu/~atomic/snowcrystals/frost2/frost2.htm

Thank you ! I hope any and everyone who is intrigued by frost will follow the link yo provided . – best Saxon

By: healingmagichands

healingmagichands — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 17:23:08 +0000

Man, when the frost paints the place like it did yours I’m not a bit surprised you were stuck out there! How gorgeous!

By the way, you get those crystal logs because of the way the water will freeze out of the humid air and deposit crystals in the structure that has already been started previously. That is also how you get the six sided plates that show up in the permafrost tunnels that the Geophysical Institute in Fairbanks maintain.

Thank you for sharing your beauty with us. We had a super hard freeze last week and now it is raining so everything that got frozen is now sagging and drooping and melting into mush. Not particularly photogenic at this time. . .

Happy Solstice and Merry Christmas.

Thanks for the explanation of the frosty crystal logs but you have only whetted my appetite for more info. The structure of the logs on the Melianthus mimic the structure of the curled leaf ? I will go out and investigate this … Saxon

By: Jacqueline Schick

Jacqueline Schick — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 01:15:09 +0000

Truly beautiful frost pictures. Here in Washington DC we were out trying to take snow pictures. I would settle for frost, much more delicate and special.

Jacqueline – The frost is a delicate look but I would love to try snow on bare branches or on red holly berries, but we never get snow. – Saxon

By: Kathy in Napa

Kathy in Napa — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 05:09:00 +0000

Jeesh, I must be slipping. It’s just not the same after the season ends. How could I have missed that cap ?

Well one doesn’t expect a cap for the boys of summer to be in a frost photo. Pitchers and catchers report in 2 months ! – S

By: Rich @ NY Homesteader

Rich @ NY Homesteader — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 02:14:58 +0000

Nice photo’s Saxon, the purples are really purple. My day in the frost came about 2 months ago, but, it is one of the most beautiful days of the year. Glad you captured it.
Peace and Prosperity to you and yours this Holiday Season!
Regards,
Rich

Thanks Rich – Am glad to hear others think frost is beautiful. One of my favorite beautiful days of the year is always first rain, a day that goes unappreciated unless you live in a summer-dry climate. – Saxon

By: Kathy in Napa

Kathy in Napa — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 05:29:06 +0000

Outstanding Saxon ! As a fellow wimpy Californian, I applaud you for venturing out and sacrificing comfort for art. I turned up the thermostat and stayed inside-looks like I really missed the boat !

Thanks Kathy – I assume you did not want to comment on the non-wimpy photographer wearing the Giants cap … Saxon

By: Stevie

Stevie — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 01:34:07 +0000

What amazing photos! The Honeybush was spectacular.

Thanks Stevie – I wish I could explain the honeybush frost pattern. – Saxon

By: Allan Becker

Allan Becker — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 21:45:02 +0000

Crunchy Frozen Grasses is a brilliant photo.
Thank you for sharing what only your eyes can see.

Thank you Allan. Each of sees different things and I find studying a scene through the camera viewfinder, and subtly changing the composition until something “clicks” to be a very satisfying process. – Saxon

By: Pam/Digging

Pam/Digging — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 06:11:27 +0000

Beautiful photos, and as always I enjoyed your tips on composing them. They brought a little imaginary chill, as it was nearly 70 here in Austin today.

You’ll just have to pretend that winter has frosty the snow man and hot chestnuts ’round the fire . – Saxon

By: Christi C.

Christi C. — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 20:17:07 +0000

Thanks for posting all that lovely ***frost***
I am newly inspired to get out there myself, frozen fingertips and all. We are up to 47 here in the Pacific Northwest, but if anything would make me want the temps to dip again soon, it would be shooting those frosty flakes Holt-style!

“Holt-style”, now that is a new descriptor. I will sneak into your comment, where few will see it, the latest descriptor for my work – “seductive”. So said Ketzel Levine on her NPR show when she selected my American Meadow Gardens book as a top 5 pick for 2009.
I think there is nothing seductive about frost though – Saxon