Next: winter (wonder) issue of the Run Wild My Child magazine ships in December. Subscribe now!

Getting Families Outside, One Adventure at a Time

hiking activities for kids

FALL, HIKE, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, PARK, PHOTOGRAPHY
How to Find Frost Flowers While Hiking
- October 27, 2021
With summer fading and temperatures dropping as we prepare for the first frost of the year, you may not be super excited about getting outside in chilly weather. However, today’s post just might change your mind as we’re about to introduce you to an amazing phenomenon that only takes place this time of year. Have you ever heard of frost flowers? Today, Midwest mom of two and local STL adventure guru Sara Lesire is here sharing everything you need to know to find frost flowers with your kids while hiking. From what a frost flower is (it might surprise you), to where to find them, when to look, how they’re formed and why they’re so elusive, this post is filled with all kinds of amazing info. Nature is SO neat!

Fall is frost flower season

Fall is finally here and the temperatures are starting to drop. This season is a great time to get kids outdoors and hiking due to milder temperatures, beautiful fall colors, and fewer nuisance insects. Another great advantage to fall hiking is the surprise discovery of frost flowers!

These elusive cool weather gems provide a wonderful outdoor treasure hunt opportunity for the whole family. Frost flowers are rare and fleeting, but quite the experience to discover. Not only does searching for frost flowers provide a fun way to explore nature, but it also is an opportunity for a science lesson to learn about how they form.

While you may never have even heard of frost flowers, I will explain the formation process and tips for how to find frost flowers while hiking.

What are frost flowers?

Despite the name, frost flowers aren’t actual flowers at all! Did you see that plot twist coming? These delicate creations are actually composed of thin ribbons of ice that curl into intricate petal shapes.

They may also be called ice flowers, ribbon ice, or rabbit ice. Stunning and short-lived, frost flowers emerge from the stems of specific plants as the temperatures begin to dip below freezing. Once the sun rises and warms the ice, these fragile ice crystals vanish away quickly. You can’t plant them or grow them, but when the weather is right they appear almost like magic.

How frost flowers form

While it may look like fairies spin these lovely creations overnight, in reality, frost flowers require very specific conditions in order to form. Frost flowers develop when the air temperature drops below freezing, but the ground is still warm. This usually occurs around the first frost of the season when the thermometer drops sharply at night, but the days are still warmer.

The higher ground temperatures are enough to keep the plants’ root systems active. As water or sap is drawn up into the stems, the cooler night air causes the moisture to freeze. The frozen moisture expands and forces pressure against the stems. This causes small cracks or fissures through the stem surface.

The moist and warm roots continue to send liquid up through the stem which then pushes out through the cracks in the stem. When this water reaches the colder air, it quickly freezes. As more water continues up the stem, the liquid continues to be forced out through the cracks and freezes upon contact with the air. (You can explain it to kids as similar to pushing toothpaste out of a tube.) This continued liquid to ice cycle creates fragile ribbons of ice that can curl and morph into unusual nature sculptures.

Size and shape of frost flowers

The size of the cracks in the stem and the type of plant determine the shape of the frost flowers. Wider stem cracks will lead to thicker flower petals. Thinner cracks create even more delicate ice crystals that twist and curl. Some stems split completely in a vertical line.

Just like snowflakes, no two frost flowers will look alike. As the ice ribbons form, they can join into each other to create petals, flowers, and even heart shapes.

Which plants create frost flowers?

Not all plants form frost flowers. According to American Scientist, about 40 different species worldwide are known to develop frost flowers. Scientists are sure exactly why only certain plants form frost flowers, but it may be due to a more active root system or stems that more easily rupture.

The more common species that lead to frost flowers include dittany, stinkwood, ironweed, crownbeard, frostweek, tickweed, Indian tobacco, and wingstem. You may even see frost flowers in wood, where water vapor is forced through the wood pores. I have also witnessed frost flowers emerging from rocky surfaces under the right conditions.

Where to look for frost flowers

The discovery of frost flowers can be exciting but you have to look in the right place. Frost flowers will only occur in areas where the temperature dips below freezing and the correct plant species grow. In the U.S., they can be found in the Midwest, Northeast, and portions of the South. An internet search may be able to help discover if or where in your area these plants grow.

Natural areas that are not mowed are a good place to search in these regions. Many of the plants that produce them grow in more moist or woody areas. I often find them in areas that are mossy, forested, or near a creek. Hilly and shades areas where the temperature is cooler are also good hunting spots. Another common location is a field near the edge of a wooded area. You may have to look closely or peek under fallen leaves to find them.

You could try looking while hiking at a local state park or nature preserve to find undisturbed areas. In Missouri for example, I have found them at parks with heavy woods, mossy hills, and streams such as Meramec State Park and Rockwoods Reservation.

How to spot frost flowers

When you first happen to witness frost flowers, they may appear as trash or tissues littering a field or forest floor. Upon closer inspection, they appear as delicate as cotton candy or a spider’s web. Once you are fortunate to find one, keep an eye out and see how many more you can discover. My kids find this process a fun scavenger hunt.

When to look for frost flowers

The timing of frost flowers is very difficult to predict as proper conditions are very specific such as when catching a rainbow. Typically, frost flowers emerge after the first good frost in fall or early winter. The first hard temperature drop of the season can cause the moist plant stems to rupture and initiate the process of the moisture being forced through the previously cracked stems. This process can continue for days or weeks depending on how the weather cooperates.

If the weather continues in an up and down pattern of warm days and cold nights, you can witness frost flowers emerging for a much longer period. While most common in fall, the process can also occur in winter and spring. Once the ground freezes, the process will cease as moisture can no longer move up the stems.

Early morning frost flowers

In order to witness the frost flower phenomenon, you need to get an early start to explore. The ice crystals form in freezing overnight hours just like typical ground frost. However, they melt away quickly when the sun begins to shine and warm the ground.

For the best chance of finding frost flowers, try to time a morning hike for soon after sunrise if you can drag the kids out of bed in time to go searching. If the day stays cool or cloudy, you may even be able to spot frost flowers into the late morning hours.

Preparing to look for frost flowers

Since frost flowers emerge after a hard drop in temperatures, be prepared with the proper gear and attire for exploring outdoors. A warm hat, gloves, and coat are key for keeping little ears and fingers warm.

Since the ground will often be frosty and damp, a good pair of water-resistant hiking shoes and wool blend socks can keep toes dry. While the nights and mornings may be cool, the daytime weather can warm quickly as the sun rises. Layers are always a good choice to allow shedding warmer outerwear.

Explore responsibly

Frost flowers are both rare and short-lived. In order to allow others to enjoy the spectacle, please teach children to observe gently. I allow my kids to carefully touch a few in order to understand what they are made of and how they are created. However, we try to avoid damaging them in case other hikers are in the area to view these special ice creations.

Always respect all rules as far as whether venturing off-trail to explore is allowed. Even with cooler temperatures, please keep an eye out to avoid disturbing nature and wildlife. Make sure you follow (and teach) all Leave No Trace principles.

Have you ever seen a frost flower?

About the author

Sara has been married to her high school sweetheart for 17 years and together they have two children. Sara spent many childhood hours outside on her grandparents’ farm and strives for her kids to have similar carefree kid adventures. Based in the St. Louis area, she loves to share on her blog and social media all the scenic and fun places to explore around the St. Louis area and beyond. Hiking is the most popular activity for her whole family followed by hitting up the best local playgrounds. Photography is also a passion of Sara’s and she continues to be amazed at the natural beauty and wonder of God’s creation. When she is not hitting the trail, Sara works as a civil engineer.

You can find more from Sara online in the following locations:
Instagram: @midwestnomadfamily
Facebook: Midwest Nomad Family
RWMC posts: Sara Lesire
NATURE SCHOOL, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, WINTER
Winter Nature Walk Ideas for Kids
- February 20, 2020
Exploring nature outdoors with kids doesn’t have to stop when the weather turns cold! Winter is a great time to get outside, get active and create memories with your family. There are so many great benefits of getting outdoors with your kids during the cold winter months. We’ve got a huge list of great winter outdoor activities for kids, and today we’re doing a deep dive into one of them. The absolutely fantastic Jemma (UK mom and teacher) of Thimble and Twig is here sharing ideas for taking a winter nature walk with kids.

Winter is wonderful

Even though some of nature is sleeping, it’s fun to watch the changing seasons and there’s still so much to learn about nature during the winter. It’s fun for kids to think about why animals hibernate and what’s happening to the trees. And to top it all off, winter is really beautiful! Ice crackling underfoot, sculpted snowflakes and the little glimmers of green leaves and red berries beneath the frost. If you’re looking for ways to get your kids out and about this winter, here are some great ideas for a winter nature walks with kids.

Things to do on a winter nature walk with kids

There are so many great things to do while on an outdoor winter nature walk with kids. Sometimes our nature walks are completely unstructured, giving us the freedom to explore and play at our own pace as we want. But other times (particularly with younger kids), we like having planned activities to do on our nature walks. This keeps the little ones occupied and entertained.

Make a mandala

There are still lots of greenery around during winter to make some gorgeous mandalas. Making a winter nature mandala is a lovely outdoor activity for kids to create in our garden or whilst on a woodland walk. Use leaves, twigs/branches, pinecones, grass and anything you naturally find in your area. Try adding red berries or moss for some added extra color.

Penny hike

A penny hike is a good way to keep kids interested on a long hike and actively looking forward to your progress. Before you begin, assign heads to left and tails to right (or visa versa) and then every time you arrive at a junction – flip your penny to decide whether you’ll turn left or right on your walk. Kids will love being in control of your destination and not knowing ahead of time which way you’ll go!

Hansel and Gretel walk

Remember how Hansel and Gretel used breadcrumbs so they didn’t lose their way? Kids will love leaving a trail for themselves so they can follow their way back! You might want to use flour as opposed to breadcrumbs because any dogs may ruin your route back otherwise!

Matchbox challenge

Do you always have pockets full of sticks and stones that your kids collect? A sweet activity for little ones that helps them observe nature more carefully is to give them a matchbox to collect their nature treasures. Having to choose only tiny things to pop into their matchbox helps them examine nature with more of a keen eye. Plus, you won’t end up with a backpack full of huge rocks or giant branches!

Cloud chart

Winter has some spectacular sunsets and the cloud formations in the sky during the day can form in beautifully interesting ways. Kids will enjoy examining the clouds and making a few observations. Try at different times of day to identify the following:
- Height: Where in the sky the cloud typically occurs (low-level, mid-level, or high-level)
- Color: The color of the cloud
- Shape: The form the cloud typically takes
- Weather: Draw the weather that occurs with the clouds
Start a nature journal

Nature journaling for kids is a lovely activity that helps expand your child’s creativity and curiosity by helping them record their observations. They can write, draw or even paint their nature adventures and nature finds. Here are loads of great ideas and tips on how to start a nature journal with kids.

If you’re unsure of what kind of nature journal to use with kids, here’s a lovely nature journal for kids that’s easily printable and includes 21 activities to help your kids explore nature and have magical outdoor adventures.

Examine snowflakes with a magnifying glass

If you’re lucky enough to have snow in the winter, let the kids see what the snowflakes look like up close. They truly are magical and unique! Catch them on a dark cloth or dark glove and observe them up close and personal. The kids could even draw them in their nature journal. Another idea is to study icicles. Have the kids figure out how and why they form? Measure them over the course of a few days and see how they change.

Take a footprints walk

Going on a footprints walk is all about being observant of the things around you. This one is great on a snowy day. All you need to do is look for footprints in the snow or mud and try to identify who/what made them. How many can you spot? Use an animal identification book to track them back to their owner.

Go on a senses walk

What does winter sound like? How does winter feel? What smells do you smell in winter? Can you paint winter? Can you taste the snow? What sounds remind you of winter? Go on a walk and see how many senses you can engage.

How to warm kids up on a winter nature walk

Kids can get chilly on winter walks, which makes them unmotivated. In order to keep them moving, one of my favorite things to bring with us on a winter hike is a flask of hot chocolate. This is great for warming kids, up but also for motivating them to the next stop.

As for warm clothing, thermals are really useful in winter. Separate layers are essential for trapping the air and keeping the skin dry and warm. Woolly hats are also an essential item on a long cold walk. With the majority of your body heat escaping from your head, the best way of ensuring that your kids are as toasty and comfortable as possible is to pop a hat on them. Gloves are also necessary for little hands. The best kind of ones are ski gloves that don’t get wet even when your kids are collecting treasures or playing around with snow. Usually, wool gloves get too wet when kids are playing, so it’s best to keep their hands snug with waterproof ski gloves.

Things to take on a winter nature walk with kids

As I mentioned, a flask of hot chocolate is wonderful on winter walks! You might also like to take a basket/bag to collect things, notebooks or nature journals; pens and watercolour paint tins are also good for making notes and drawing pictures. Kids might like binoculars or a magnifying glass to look through. A kids’ identification book for birds or bugs is also useful.

Happy winter wandering!
We hope this has helped you plan some fun winter walks!

About the author

I’m Jemma and I live in London, England with my husband and 4 kids. My all-time favorite thing to do is take photos and capture memories of my family. I’m on a mission to ensure parenthood doesn’t rush by so quickly by creating mini family outdoor adventures and hopefully some big adventures too one day! I’m a mum to four and an English teacher to many; my passion for storytelling, adventures and nature crafts is packaged up into my blog http://www.thimbleandtwig.com. You can also follow along on our adventures on Instagram @thimbleandtwig.