The first time I saw frost flowers here in northwest Arkansas, about nine years ago now, I thought they were trash collected at the base of weeds on the roadsides.

And then I saw a photo at Cloudland and the mystery was solved and a fascination began. As if I don’t already have enough fascination with things!

Since that time I’ve watched for frost flowers every year. They usually happen during the first few hard freezes. The “flower” is caused by the sap being frozen as it is forced out of the lower stems of plants.

On the way out to the gate yesterday where we were cutting firewood I saw some more frost flowers.