Jack Frost has been busy providing the area with beautiful artwork......

It has truly been a Winter Wonderland in our area for the past week. Nature has been covered with a beautiful fluffy covering of what is known as “hoar frost.” The term is derived from the old English word “hoary” which means ‘getting on in age.’ With this thought in mind, many trees did present a “hair-like” appearance resembling white, feathery beards. Normal frost forms as a result of specific climatic conditions. Ground frost forms when the air is still and cold, usually on clear winter nights. Water vapour in the air condenses on solid surfaces, and as the surface temperature drops below 0°C, ice crystals form. Hoar frost, however, requires slightly different conditions. It forms when the water vapour in the air comes into contact with solid surfaces that are already below freezing point. Ice crystals form immediately, and the ice continues to grow as more water vapour is frozen. On a still night, it can grow well on tree branches, where the surface temperature is unlikely to rise above zero for several hours. Whatever the scientific explanation.... it is definitely beautiful!