Cooler weather in the southeastern United States can be a bit frustrating for outdoor photography activities. Snow events are rare, and we usually end up with rain, or sleet. But in late fall, and early winter, we can search, and hope to find frost flowers. We need air temperatures of 32°F or below, and vegetation that is still actively bringing water up from its roots system, and up its stem. As the water freezes, it expands and extrudes thru the stem. The ice ribbons that form in the process keep growing away from the stem. I’ve seen frost flowers form close to the ground, or higher up longer stems. They usually don’t last long past sunrise. But if they are located in shaded areas, and the temperature doesn’t rise above freezing, they can last for a couple of hours.
I saw my first frost flowers in November, 2018, and constantly search for them on my way to work when the conditions are right. If I’m lucky, I can spend ten to twenty minutes in the field, and photograph as many as I can. Here are some examples of my favorite captures. Make sure to search for them when you can!
