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| State of the Ozarks Ice Roses • Dedicated to the celebration and preservation of Ozark culture and history • © 2007, 2008 • Joshua Heston • Lucky13Studios © | |||
by Joshua Heston
If you find yourself traipsing about an Ozark hillside sometime this winter, it might be a good idea to watch where you're going.
Otherwise, you may put your foot down on an ice rose.
Ice roses, also known as frost flowers, are rare natural formations.
They form at certain altitudes and only under specific weather conditions. Ice roses appear to be unique to the Ozarks.
When the air temperature is below freezing but the ground still warm, water vapor can be drawn up from the soil — usually through dead weed stalks (plate 3).
As the water vapor pours out from the stalk, it freezes in strands.
The result?
Ice formations that course and swirl, mapping out the flow of the air itself.
Layer after layer of ice is laid down like spun glass.
Ice roses take on a variety of shapes, growing to resemble not only roses but iris, tulips (plate 5), leaves, even fancy ribbon candy (plate 2).
Some exceed four inches in width (plate 4).
And, though ice roses are rare, once conditions are right, whole mountainsides can bloom with roses in an afternoon.
So, the next time you're traipsing about an Ozark hillside in the winter, keep an eye out for anything white.
And watch where you put your feet.
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Ice Rose photo plates
All photo credits: J. Heston. Location: Mincy-Drury Conservation Area, Taney County, Missouri • SOTO © Archive. 12/15/08
December 30, 2008