This time it is not as spectacular as other years, but still very neat, did yours do it?
The Frostweed Does it Again.
I think the shapes are so interesting.
The ice is very delicate and fluffy.
It melts fast, so you have to get out there early.
Only two of the tiny plants burst in my garden so far. My backyard is in a low valley of sorts. They were small but pretty! Thanks for the reminder Josephine.
One more. They are so small you can tell by the leaves around them.
They were worth getting dressed and taking pictures in the cold.
Allright Sheila!!! I am so glad they finally did it for you. It is so much fun, maybe others will catch it too.
Ok, I'll take the bait, Sheila and Josephine. I have never heard of this phenomenon before. Please explain what I'm looking at here.
Tonya
Hey there frostweed. I love your photos of this very fun and magical plant. I plan on having some in my garden. It would be really great to see some macro photos of these delicate ice formations.
Those are great pics!
For more about forms of frost check out the wiki for some starter info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frost
Tonya, Frostweed is a wonderful plant, besides being and easy to grow perennial it has lovely large leaves that give it a tropical look, white flowers in August and September when it attracts a multitude of bees, butterflies and many other insects to its abundant nectar.
When the temperature goes below freezing the stems explode and the juice freezes into lovely fluffy formations.
Here are links to read more about it.
http://wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=VEVI3
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/62734
Thanks willieb and Josephine. Those look really cool.
Can you grow them from seed and if so, does anyone have some seed they'd like to trade?
Tonya
Tonya, dmail me and I will send you some.
Tonya, I love the Frostweed because it is a butterfly host plant and nectar plant too. It will grow in the sun or shade. I prune mine when it starts getting tall to make it fill out more; and it just bounces back like crazy!
Oh! that is lovely Sheila.
Cool!
Oh, I must have some of this! I've always been more of a full-sun gardener. ut my new house has a yard that is mostly shady. I know I'll enjoy this when it's hot, but I also love all the flowers that need the full sun. When I read that it would do well in shade, I knew I'd found something to add to my I-want-it list.
Suz
Dmail me Zuz and i will sen you some seed.
Josephine, when is the best time to plant seed?
Christi
Ok I followed your threads last year on this. Is there any chance it would grow here? I am just facsinated witht his plant besides being a great home school lesson for my young ones.
Christi and Marie, I like to plant the seed in the Spring. Please dmail me and will be glad to send you some seed.
Christi I can give you a plant or two when I see you, bur if you want to play with the seed that is o.k. too.
Josephine.
Josephine is this a easy seed to start?
Yes, not hard at all.
I'll wait, Jo.
Josephine, If you've got enough seed, I'd love some also. I'm sending you a dmail.
Thanks. Sarah
Yes I have enough Sarah.
Happy Birthday! Frostweed!!
And Happy Birthday again!
Christi
Happy Birthday (Belated) Frostweed!
Thank you Everyone, I had a great day yesterday and am still celebrating, today we are going to the Gailord Texan to see a special ice sculptures exhibit.
Let me know some info about that when you get back. We would love to do that this year.
Sheila, go to the website.
The Ice show was really great, I hope to put up some pictures if they turned out well.
I would love to have some frostweed here.... but I don't think I will ever get to see it pop. Even with the freak snow event last week, it only got down to 32 very briefly. On the rare occasion that it drops to 32 or below, it only stays there for an hour or two.
I guess I could always grow it and then put it in the freezer to make it pop!!
My lantana did it!
Another lantana shot...
I also found some frostweed in the park that had put on a show...
I have lantana but never thought to go look at it. Probably too late now. Still in the 20's.
Picture of fountain this morning. Looks worse now.
Christi
That is really neat Dennis, we learn something everyday. I wasn't doubting you, just surprised.
Christi your fountain looks very frosty.
Hope that fountain was unplugged last night!
Here is 1 of 6 of the tiny Frostweeds that did their thing. The big ones were nice but not as dainty.
