Ice - Needles, Flowers, and Hair

I was introduced to unusual ice formations on a winter day hike on the Appalachian Trail near Buena Vista, Virginia, in February 2005.

This collection of ice needles was what originally caught my eye.

A closer look at the ice needles.

These needles seem to form bell-shaped flowers. They remind me of Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica).

Since then I've come across ice needles a few more times.

Here's a photo from December 2011.

Today we came across the phenomenon again on a short walk.

Ice needles pushing up soil.

More ice.

These needles were growing more vertically than others.

How these structures grow is still a subject of debate. I've seen these in moist soil after a quick cold snap. Yesterday temperatures here got as low a 6°F (-14°C), but the ground hadn't completely frozen before that.

 If you want more information (and some spectacular pictures), James R. Carter, a professor emeritus of geography and geology at Illinois State University, has written two general-interest articles:

• "Unusual Ice Formations", Weatherwise, Jan-Feb 2009, pp. 34-40.
• "Flowers and Ribbons of Ice", American Scientist, Sept-Oct 2013, pp. 360-369.

Happy ice hunting!

"Illumination" at the Morton Arboretum

After two days in Washington, DC, and two days in Pittsburgh, we've moved on to Chicago on our pre-Christmas family tour. Last night we attended the "Illumination" at the Morton Arboretum. That's an after-dark light and sound extravaganza that runs from mid-November through December. Last night there was no snow on the ground, and the temperature was just barely above freezing -- not bad for this time of year.

The 1-mile route starts at the Visitor Center. The outside trees are reflected in the Center's windows.

Near the beginning, most of the trees are outlined in lights.

Meadow Lake, near the Visitor Center, has a dazzling show of constantly changing colors and lights.

The light display gives a ghostly glow to a tree.

The music-and-light display near the end of the trail.

Returning to the Visitor Center and the starting point.

There are a number of displays that have to be experienced, not photographed. Warm beverages are available to ward off the winter chill. Taking "selfies" is a challenge -- it helps to use the "flashlight" on a second phone to illuminate your face!

Washington Wildlife

Saturday, 16 November & Sunday, 17 November 2017

It's not "wildlife" writ large, but we did see cute and interesting wild creatures on our walks in and about Washington, DC.

Squirrels were abundant and nicely plump for the winter.

Forget pigeons, at the Korean War Memorial house sparrows were the bird of choice.

A downy woodpecker worked on a tree in Arlington National Cemetery.

As we walked around the pond in Constitution Gardens on the mall, a great blue heron flew in and walked across the ice.

Black vultures are not as common as turkey vultures, but nine of them were perched on a rooftop and street light in John and Mandi's neighborhood.

Two Days in Washington, DC

We spent two days visiting John & Mandi, who are currently living in Maryland, just outside Washington, DC.

Saturday, 16 November 2016

Saturday was cold, but sunny and beautiful. We joined tens of thousands of volunteers to help "Wreaths across America" place wreaths on graves in Arlington National Cemetery. There were so many people on the Metro that it took almost 45 minutes to get out of the Metro station at Arlington.

John and Mandi at Mandi's Uncle's grave.

Sunday, 17 November 2017

Sunday was warmer, but gray and threatening all day long. We spent the afternoon walking the monuments on the western half of the National Mall, including the Tidal Basin. Lon and I had not visited many of these monuments before. In order, we visited:

• Jefferson Memorial
• Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
• District of Columbia World War I Memorial
• Korean War Memorial
• Lincoln Memorial
• Albert Einstein Memorial
• Vietnam War Memorial
• Signers of the Declaration of Independence Memorial
• World War II Memorial

Altogether, we walked about 9 miles!

The Jefferson Memorial and reflection in the Tidal Basin. The Memorial is being cleaned to restore its white marble structure to its original color.

The Korean War Memorial is one of the newer monuments on the Mall. The polished black granite wall is etched with photographs from the National Archives and reflects the statues of soldiers that give it a ghostly background.

The reflecting pool between the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument was partially frozen.

Up close and personal with Albert Einstein with the cosmos at his feet.

While we didn't visit the Washington Monument, it dominates all views near the Mall. Here it is reflected in the Tidal Basin.

While many of the monuments have inspiring quotes, two stood out for our current times:

From Thomas Jefferson.

From FDR.