Last week we had an ice storm here in the Midwest. Temperatures hovered near 32 degrees F and it alternated between rain, sleet and snow. It was a cold, white Christmas Eve we woke up to. But what a beautiful sight! I'm trying to establish the habit of having my camera nearby at all times and I'm glad I had it with me that morning. I walked around the yard amidst the frozen downed tree branches. While I snapped away, the ice melted and dripped. The pictures I took without a flash were just ho-hum so I tried "flashing" them. And this appeared. The tree is a swamp maple and I don't know if these are buds or what. (And if they are buds, what the heck are they doing out in December?) The branches are usually way above my head but the weight of the ice brought them down to eye level. It was breathtaking. Each bud was encased in a magical "snow globe" of ice, which magnified their beauty. Within hours the ice was gone and the branches ascended and the world looked normal again. I am grateful I had the opportunity to see and record this bit of magic before it disappeared. And to be reminded... it's always around us, isn't it?
These are so cool! I thought they were photoshopped lightbulbs on the tree at first! lol. Until I saw they were ice..so wild to have them around the bud.
ReplyDeleteCheryl
They do look like little lights. Hope they aren't buds!!
ReplyDeleteThat is just beautiful! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteIndeed magical!! I also thought they were photoshopped! way cool!!
ReplyDeleteHow absolutely beautiful!! Nature is a never endingsource of inspiration - thanks for sharing your backyard :-))
ReplyDeleteYeah these are awesome!! I too thought they were photoshopped lightbulbs! Beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteNature is so amazing! So glad you were enjoying the wonders and observant. Great photos!
ReplyDeleteAmazing! I think buds start out very tiny now and expand come spring time but I'm not sure. This is just a super picture.
ReplyDeleteWhat great pictures! They look like little lightbulbs I thought they were christmas lights at first before I actually looked and realized they were little buds (or something) coated in ice. Great job in capturing these moments. I especially like the middle one w/ the close up buds and then you can still see the colors in the farther away buds. Very cool!
ReplyDeletexo
-T
The buds are actually safer in the 32 degree ice than they are today in the 5 degree cold if the ice is gone. My daughter went out and took pics but has a point and shoot and they weren't quite what she wanted. I thought they were absolutely cool of my prairie fire crab-apples encased in ice.
ReplyDeleteLIsa; How cool is this????? What an awesome gift to wake up and see this! I have never seen anything like it before. I thought I was looking at a piece of art work where someone attached light bulbs to a tree! Thanks for sharing ~ these pictures are amazing!
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