Mother Nature really knows how to set the stage, doesn't she. As much as we may hate the winter, she is a thing of beauty if we but stop a moment and look around us. Notice I said "she." What else would winter be.
R

There is a point in nature when everything is perfect: temperature, humidity, wind.... It is so rare, but when they all align, these beautiful ice crystals result. Thanks for going out and documenting it. R.

Woa - I've never heard of hoarfrost before! And what amazing pictures. Huh - I guess you do learn something new every day. Thanks for this, and for playing "teacher" today! Well, speaking of, do you know how the name came about?

While hoarfrost is beautiful, and even though I had read the term in many books to describe a scene, I never knew just what it meant until about a week ago when it happened here. Mel told me what I was looking at was "hoarfrost". As beautiful as it is....I would perfer mid-eighties and sunshine.

Outside, I don't know where the term comes from. I don't really know the distinction between "hoarfrost", and just "frost". My father used the term when frost crystals coated everything, not just the ground. That's the way that I have used it.

I think it's wonderful that you use that phrase from your father. I won't even "Wiki-it" because I don't need to know anything but that. Thanks for telling me, Teacher.

I miss hoarfrost -- love the pics!

I walked outside this morning ---saw it too and could not remember the term. So thanks for both the great pics and jogging my rapidly decaying memory!

Mother Nature can be an incredible artist.

Excellent photos Procopius. We've been getting the freezing fog where I'm at too. It's these moments of beauty, like these astonishing ice crystals, that almost make me think winter is OK. Almost:P

Donna, Jeff, Torman, Walk, Roger, thanks for stopping by!

Lisa, your current domicile has its own advantages!

Chuck, she certainly is.

nanatehay, one of the most amazing winter drives I've ever taken was in your part of the country, through the Flint Hills after an ice storm. Scary, but beautiful.

Being I am California born and bred I NEVER see these things. Thank you this was beautiful and amazing to see.

lovely

Wonderful! I especially like the Christmas light photo. Great frost crystal capture!

I can appreciate the beauty of these pictures. I really can. I just know that without a doubt I don't belong in them. rated with thoughts of spring.

Gorgeous. The third photo was wonderful, how the frost settles on everything, from the natural to man-made, making all come together with colors of brilliance with the crystal's touch.

Loved this, thank you!

Beautiful pics! Why do the call it hoarfrost?

The fog rarely lifts from my "neighborhood" till after a cup of coffee. Nice pix, especially because I'm sitting in Florida and it finally warmed up. ;)

Lunchlady, I guess you need to take a drive out to the Sierras!

Roy and Leonde, thank you.

Joan, after the sub-0 weather we had earlier, this past week's sub-freezing (20's) has seemed pretty tame.

scanner, I don't know the answer to your question, other than the fact that the word "hoar" is Old English for a grayish-white color.

Lea, that's because your boyfriend is keeping you up too late. Behave yourself.

Sparking, I didn't mean to skip you. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!

Brrr....thanks for the reminder of what winter is really like...I love the way the ice makes everything look like brambles.

Scruffus, admit it, you just stopped by here with your tank top avatar to rub your Caribbean warmth in our frost-bitten faces!

Spent a long time here looking at your beautiful pictures--thank you.

Steve, you captured the beauty of this weather condition beautifully! Only rarely have I experience the same effect here, but it always is dazzling, especially when an early morning, bright sun amplifies the wonderland look to it all.

Sophie, thank you for your kind words. Glad you stopped by!

John, "dazzling" is a good choice of words. Thanks!

Your continued work here is appreciated, Procopius.

The hoarfroast you document today made me think of displaced water, mana to the thirsty only what? 2,000 miles Northwest of
Port-au-Prince....Ma Nature in charge, fickle, astonishing.

J Hart, thank you for your kind words, and for the reminder of the ongoing tragedy. I had the luxury of admiring Mother Nature's splendor this morning, while millions of others are simply trying to survive her random and devastating power. It's humbling.

May I just say how relieved I am that you stepped up and wrote about the hoarfrost in your area. Why just yesterday I was thinking how I want to post about the irritating slutfog that has been laying around the Tahoe basin of late, making it so danged hard to see and drive. It is really a sight to behold but it is quite annoying, day after day, blocking the views of the mountains and the lake. Yes, you may have inspired me to expand on the natural phenom that is, slutfog. And the annoying tourists, pulling their cars over along the winding ridge into our little lake community, taking photos of the slutfog, causing congestion and a big slow down, just to capture this rare sight in our neck of the woods.

And now, to back up a bit and give you the well deserved complimnet I was getting around to...your beautiful post, the words, the photos and your inspiration, is stunning. I love the way that the weather illuminates nature, in all it's splendor. You have captured it so well. Please forgive me for being silly on a sleepy, snowy Sunday. Although, the concept of slutfog has me going.....

Cathy, it sounds like Mother Nature is a "fallen woman"! Thanks for stopping by and making me smile this morning.

Your beautiful photos show there is an upside to cold...

Frost is truly magical, isn't it?

Scarlett, despite, or perhaps because of, the fact that I grew up in an area that had relatively mild winters, I kind of enjoy the cold. Of course, that enjoyment is drastically diminished by March and April!

Gwen, it is. We've had amazing displays the past three mornings.