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02 February, 2010

What Is It?...or...A Strange Occurrence in My Birdbath

ice This is what I saw when I looked out of the back door last Saturday morning…something lurking in my birdbath! I was so curious that I ran outside to have a peek! And this is what I found…an ice sculpture protruding from the frozen surface!


IMG_0554 Now I have to admit that I have lived in the South most of my life and I have never encountered anything like this! It is not attached to or covering anything. It is simply a sort of cone-shaped piece of ice which melted and was gone by the end of the day! What do you think? Here’s my theory…


IMG_0558 We have had some freezing rain…even the rain drops were frozen on the branches…with temperatures hovering around 32 degrees. I think the bird bath partially melted, leaving a sort of ice cube which was squeezed to the top when the birdbath refroze at night. Has anybody ever seen anything like it before? Any other theories? There is nothing above the birdbath. It's in the open!


IMG_0573 And if that’s not enough, the next morning, I awoke to this sight…hoar frost turning my backyard into a winter wonderland! I haven’t seen this in years! And what’s funny is that several other bloggers mentioned seeing it last week, too!


IMG_0575 Isn’t it beautiful? Can you see the little crystals? It takes a special set of circumstances to create it…


IMG_0584 …a cold, clear night, very moist air and surfaces already at freezing temperatures, such as trees, shrubs and grass! It seems that we had all three and here’s the result!


IMG_0571 It almost looks like snow, doesn’t it? Unfortunately, this beautiful wintery scene didn’t last long. You can already see the sun beginning to shine over the berm. Sigh… Now I am waiting for the next winter weather surprise!

Outdoor_Wednesday_logo I am excited to join Susan at A Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday! It has been a while since I have had anything to show you in my winter yard! Please head on over to see what Susan has going on and to see a list of this week’s participants! Thanks so much for stopping by! See you next time! A la prochaine!

53 comments:

  1. Debbie, your photos are beautiful! I've been thinking on this, was there anything above the birdbath that it could have fallen off of? That is one of the strangest things I've ever seen, but it sure made pretty pictures! Hugs, Kat

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  2. ...cool clear water...
    ...frozen just in time...
    ...cool clear water...
    ...solidly defined...
    ...cool clear water...
    ...a mystery does create...
    ...cool clear water...
    ...winter was your fate...

    Love those images.. and just could not help myself! LOL

    Love & Heaven's Blessings,
    The Muse

    Where is that Muse?
    Word Games ~ adivashammer.blogspot
    Poetry ~ adivashammer.com
    Food Quips ~ mysterymeatloaf.blogspot
    Design & Art ~ myladydujour.com

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  3. No, Kat...the birdbath is in the open...nothing above it at all!!

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  4. Oh Wow! You just struck out my theory then. I figured somehow there must have been something above it that was dripping pretty hard and causing a splash and that the splashes eventually built up to form the cone shape. That is reeeeaaaaalllly strange! You should send the pics to your local tv station and see if anyone else has any ideas!

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  5. Hi Debbie
    As my mom would say...Curiouser and curiouser. That is a strange phenomenon.
    Love your photos. The frost on the trees is spectacular!

    Hugs,
    Jane

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  6. Wow... what a neat phenomenon. And those ice crystals... amazing!

    So glad you were able to capture the beauty with your camera!

    :)
    ButterYum

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  7. Debbie, That is very strange... beautiful, but strange. In the photo it looks like it might have layers. Maybe Ken Cook,Fox 5's meteorologist, would know?? The photos of the hoar frost are great. We had the same, but I wasn't about to go out and take photos.. Ha.

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  8. Hi Debbie,
    I think you have little aliens living in that birdbath. hehe. Great shots! I have curly snow, come by and see! Hugs, Cindy

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  9. maybe it was garden fairies...great photos...

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  10. The frost on the plants looks so pretty.

    About the thing in your birdbath.... let see... a fairy size tornado passed right over your birdbath right at the same time that the frost hit, and it froze there!
    :-)
    LOL, I don't have a clue.

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  11. I had your same experiences with the ice my first winter in Chicago.
    Your images are incredible.

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  12. I have no idea what caused it, but I just love it. Really weird, but oh so cool. I think maybe our theory is right. I love the ice on all the plants in your pics, so pretty. Hope you are staying warm. Hugs, Marty

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  13. The dear "ice sculpture" is charming. How nice for all of us that you were able to photograph it. Isn't this just the best winter? My birdbath has a tall "cap"of snow that is lovely.
    The hoar frost is great!! It creates a fairy land. Must thank you for sharing.

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  14. Oh, Debbie, your photos are breathtaking! You really captured the frost beautifully.

    Pop over for our giveaway, if you haven't entered.

    Happy Valentine's
    TTFN ~ Marydon

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  15. Beautiful photos! So curious about the bird bath. Love all the ice crystals you captured.

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  16. Wow that is some mysterious ice sculpture...Aliens?? LOL Great winter pictures!

    Miss Bloomers

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  17. He Debbie...I am happy to share some of our Central NY weather with you for a change! LOL
    You have had some strange weather for sure, but these photos make it look so beautiful.

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  18. Cool pictures, Debbie! I've never heard of hoar frost. Must have slept on that day in class. We have snow, and school has been closed all week, so you're lucky.

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  19. Nature certainly has some mysteries -- and you've captured a lovely one. There is almost nothing more breathtaking that ice on trees and bushes -- so lovely and yet so terrible at the same time. Love your pictures.

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  20. I'd really love to live somewhere that I would still find all the ice/snow things fun! I must say, your sculpture is a bit unusual. Of course we drain the birdbath here for winter, so that couldn't happen. Your photos are really pretty!

    Sue

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  21. WOW! Those pictures were great. So clear and such detail. Beautiful to say the least. Just a little happy surprise from God. Enjoyed it, too, I know you did.
    Sharon

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  22. Isn't it obvious? It's the tip of the iceberg! Oh, wait, it would uside down wouldn't it? Got me, I have no idea. Please let us know if you get a real explanation.
    Hugs,
    Dawn

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  23. What a cool thing to have been able to capture! The photos of nature's "icing" are beautiful.

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  24. It is a mystery. But these photos are outstanding. Such a winter wonderland, Debbie.

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  25. Ooooohhhh very pretty and unusual looking Debbie! Love the frost.

    Muse's poem is great too! :)

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  26. Deb, I am so glad you posted this, It looks as if no one has any idea what this could be??? You really need to send this in , My hubby thought it was pretty cool and had no idea what it could be either. not being from the south, what the heck is a hoar frost. It sure is pretty but I have never in my life heard that one??? Dumb Calif. girl , I guess. Kathysue

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  27. A what frost? It is so nutty that some of our pink trees are blooming now after the frost. Mother nature sure can't make up her mind but I guess the groundhog sure did!
    Joyce

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  28. Mother nature certainly provided you with a beautiful winter wonderland. A very pretty but cold blog today.

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  29. Nice wintery pics! CHEERS! Michele

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  30. Debbie... living in South Texas I'm certainly not the pundit of winter ice... the only ice we see outside is during July and it's all in coolers...

    Love your photos... just beautiful... thanks for sharing with we warm weather birds... Dixie

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  31. Debbie, that is amazing! Your theory is as logical as anything else I can think of. I've never seen anything like it. At first, I thought you had left a cup sitting in the bird bath. Your photos are beautiful, and your mystery is unsolvable (at least by me). laurie

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  32. Strange... but true ice sculpture in bird bath 2010!
    Joyce M

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  33. I think your theory is probably exactly right. I have never seen anything like that and as you said, there was nothing that could have dripped into the birdbath so I think it happened exactly like that. Good thinking.
    Isn't it great to wake up to some gorgeous thing nature has created for us? I would be thrilled with more rain! :) I loved your story and your pictures were beautiful!
    Love,
    Mona

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  34. Beautiful photos! Isn't nature simply amazing??

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  35. I don't know...but it's neat it happened.

    I'm so glad that General Beauregard Lee said we're to have an early spring. I think I've had enough cold weather now. I'd like to dry out bit too!

    Manuela

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  36. Very interesting! It made for some lovely artwork.

    I love your "staff"!

    ~ Tracy

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  37. Debbie - INCROYABLE! Quelle jolie glace! Linda

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  38. That is so funny and odd. Very pretty though. Thanks for sharing with us. I've never seen anything like it before!!

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  39. That is so cool! I love the way ice makes everything look like crystal!

    Blessings,

    Kim

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  40. The ice crystals are beautiful, Debbie. You captured them so nicely. Do you think that ice sculpture might have fallen from somewhere? My daughter called early this morning and thought she started getting contractions. But I guess they stopped. She better wait for me, I am leaving in 2 days, lol....Christine

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  41. Oh no Debbie..I think it is much more complicated than that involving molecular mutations, etc. It is very serious..you need to call an iceologist right away!
    Great pics of a hoar frost too. I only learned that this year. We don't have those here in NY. All our hoars are very hot..:)

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  42. Debbie, that is without a doubt the wierdest thing I've ever seen, but SO neat! What on earth???

    I've been MIA this week. I came up for air to blog this weekend. I've got a fundraiser tomorrow night. I thought ALL week it was tonight! Duh! ;-)

    XO,

    Sheila... who loves and copycatted your cute wreath!

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  43. Well, whatever it is, it's beautiful! Love all your photos, Debbie!

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  44. Hey Deb, we are back home from Nashville. I don't have a theory for your ice sculpture, but is is quite unique. That frozen fog was quite outstanding. At first I thought it had snowed and then I realized it was the fog freezing on everything. I thought it was so pretty and of course the sun came out and it was gone! Oh well. I am still hoping for maybe one pretty snowfall this year.

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  45. Your scenery is beautiful.

    Just wanted to say hello - I met you today - not sure if you remember me or not - just thought I'd say hello and check out your blog.

    Sandie

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  46. Glad you could come yesterday. Sue and I want to come up and shop at your GW store one day and do some lunch with you. Hope you found the way home yesterday OK. Keep us posted on the new babino!
    Joyce

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  47. The pictures are beautiful and I love your new blog look! I've been reading.........just alot going on and not much time to comment. Still love your blog!

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  48. Oh My God....what a fabulous new header you have I love it!!
    It was so nice seeing you yesterday...I thought we all had such a great time and looking forward to seeing you at the baby shower in April....What is more fun then a bunch of grandmothers going to a baby shower!! Hope your baby arrives real soon....Sue

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  49. Hey friend, catching up on my past months' absence of blogging, where does the time go? Geeminee. Is that a word? haha! This post and pics are breathtaking of the ice. Wow...love that unique "serendipity" icecube! Wow, that's a once in a lifetime little creation... I like the new facelift on your blog! Very cute! I read Joyce and Sue's post about the Valentine Tea on Friday, I was soooooo jealous of all the phone you all had. I was slammed with work like I knew I would be. Hopefully I'll make the next one. I wish they were on Saturdays... :( It's so hard to get away from work. Well, hugs friend! Is that baby here yet? :) ~CC

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Thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to comment! I appreciate my wonderful readers!... Debbie