Freezing – Tendrils

Mother Nature’s Art

When there is a weather forecast that includes freezing rain or snow or simply freezing temperatures, I’m all set, so is my camera.

A vernal pool is a wonderful canvas for great artwork.

Freezing temperatures and moisture, a magical mix.

Mother Nature has created an ear worm! I’m hearing, “earth below us drifting falling” and the music going through my head.

The yoga studio, three days a week, and loads of opportunities to capture artwork by Mother Nature. During normal times at least.

And the work she does, coating her precious trees with silver and diamonds is stunning.

A jumble of grass becomes something exquisite.

The strokes of a brush filled with diamonds. Spells cast by the best of artists.

Snow Drops

The name is Snow Drop (Galanthus nivalis). This is what it looks like right now against my back steps as night time temperatures go down to well below freezing.

It welcomes those temperatures and its namesake, snow, without a care.

One very hardy plant that grows up from a bulb.

A plant that is native to Europe and southwestern Asia. It’s well behaved and stays where I plant it.

No worry of it being invasive and all the while brings joy in the middle of winter.

I’m on the watch for the Wood Frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus) to arrive at my little manmade pond. During the cold of winter Wood Frogs hibernate in the soil under leaf litter where their bodies go through freeze and thaw cycles depending on weather conditions.

In mid February they awaken from their hibernation and search for vernal pools for breeding, often returning to the same pool year to year. They sometimes begin their breeding even before ice is totally gone from the pond.

While actively hunting for mates they’re quite the noise makers, sounding a “clack, clack, clack” particularly during and after rain.

Their egg masses are impressive to see, and can contain one thousand to three thousand eggs. The eggs hatch in nine and thirty days, depending on the temperature of the water.

The tadpoles undergo metamorphosis at about two months and crawl out of the vernal pool as tiny frogs. At this point, I’ve got to watch that I don’t step on any of the cute little things.

A fully grown Wood Frog varies in size from one and a half to three inches, and they generally live no longer than three years.

I’m looking forward to hearing that, “clack, clack, clack” sound!