Monday, February 18, 2008

Icicle Fringes


I don't think I have seen ice formations as unique, as these 'icicle fringes" before. Lamp- shades or crystal chandeliers come to mind! This is the time of year when we often have daytime melt, then nighttime freeze with our frigid, below freezing temperatures. The probable explanation for these beautiful icicle formations is that we had rain a few days ago and that resulted in a rise of surface water in some places. Then as the water abated the frozen shell ice clung to the trees creating a skirt of ice around their trunks above the snowy, icy surface below.
As this icy skirt began to melt, the dripping edges were caught in frozen motion.
.
icy fingers reach
downwards stretching touching earth
melting ice pendants
.

Above, found in another location, these icy fringes meet the river's surface.

9 comments:

  1. Anonymous8:59 AM

    So weird and neat. That first picture looks like a jellyfish popsicle!

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  2. You're so right, I never thought of a jellyfish but now that you've said it; I can totally see it! Neat for sure; it was an exciting find.

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  3. How unusual and really beautiful!

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  4. Anonymous9:47 PM

    Fantastic! I've never seen anything like it. Wonderful poetic description.

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  5. Your photos are truly gorgeous though I quickly admit that I am glad to live in a more temperate climate :) I just don't know if I could take the snow. It would certainly be better for photography.....snow lights your subjects so well and the Oregon cloudy sky grays everything out.....

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  6. mary:
    I was amazed at their delicate looking crystals; I agree with you, very unusual.

    kingsdowner:
    "Cool", you said.
    Decidedly so!

    april:
    The icicle's uniqueness was definetly in need of some poetry. :-)

    birdnerd:
    Winter is not my favourite season and this year we have had the most storms and more snow than I can remember from many years past now. Previous years my feet touched brown earth and yellow grass much more often than the practically 'never' of this winter. But, yes, always look for the positive; the snow does create a good backdrop.

    Thank you all for your comments.

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  7. Wow! How beautiful! These are so different and interesting. I like these pictures a lot.

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  8. Sandpiper:
    Yes, very different from what I am used to seeing. I shall continue looking for more unique ice treasures! They were a nice find.

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