The first of the month brought a pretty dramatic cold snap to the River Valley area (and most of the state). The sudden chill brought the perfect conditions for a quirky little phenomenon to happen in the forests of Arkansas. If you didn’t get the chance to see it we may be in luck with the temperature drop coming this weekend. Hopefully these frosty flowers will “bloom” a few more times before the ground totally freezes. Careful where you step as we tiptoe through the fields of frost flowers.

This delicate little flower is a frost flower.
Flickr/Tanya Impeartrice
You may have stumbled upon one or two while out hiking to one of our frozen falls.
Flickr/Tanya Impeartrice
They form after freezing weather happens when the ground is not already frozen.
Flickr/Jonathan Ball
The sap in the stem will expand and create cracks along the stem. This allows water to come through and freeze, creating the dainty "petals" to form.
Flickr/Marvin Smith

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Frost flowers have different shapes depending which plants are affected so the flowers may have large "winged" petals...
Flickr/Jonathan Ball
...or look more like ribbons.
Flickr/Tanya Impeartrice
You have to get out quick to catch them though. They'll melt as soon as the sun touches them.
Flickr/Tanya Impeartrice
No matter the form, we're fans of all the little frost flowers. They're a fleeting phenomenon that work as great motivation to get you out hiking in the cold.
Flickr/Tanya Impeartrice

If you’ve captured any pictures of the frost flowers around Arkansas we would love to see them! You can use the #arkansasonly for a chance to have your photo featured on our Instagram .

If the temperature has swung once again, then try these weather-based adventures.

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