Ever take a hike to the limestone quarry on a cold morning and notice the phenomenon of lots of ice flowers formed around the winter bones of frostweed (Verbesina virginica)? These mysterious frost flowers, ribbons of thin ice can be seen in the habitat gardens near the parking lot as well. When ground temperatures are still warm but the air is cold, water is drawn up through the plant stalk, and the stalk splits and cracks along thin vertical lines. The moisture exudes and freezes upon contact with the cold air, and the ice petals push, flow and coil around to form the frost flowers.
