Beautiful Highways

Lyn and I recently went on a trip to Tucson, Phoenix and Las Vegas. I was literally stunned by the beauty of their highways in all three towns. Every over pass was painted with Indian and south west designs. Fences along the high ways were painted as well. The tapered sections leading up to the over passes were done with designs out of colored rock and some had huge metal sculptures in them. Not some, but all of them. Even water retention ponds had beautiful fences around them. I didn't get pictures but cell phone antennas in Las Vegas were made into artistic trees. Some in Phoenix were big artistic sculptures. El Paso high ways were decorated as well but not nearly as nice as in the other states. The Texas Highway Dept. sure could stand to take some lessons from these states when it comes to highway beautification. These pictures are not the greatest as I was driving and taking pictures.

Ice Weed

I was beginning to think it wasn't going to get cold enough for the ice weed to "bloom".

It is a great addition to the garden. Even though it's real blooms are not all that much to look at, they do attract a lot of different butterflies and the winter "blooms" are great.

There is no end to the different shapes and swirls that they produce.

I inspect them every year and am dazzled and amazed by their formations.

I have read several different theories on how the ice forms but none seem logical to me.

It is so very fragile and will just crumble if squeezed at all.



 

I have come to the conclusion that it is magic, natures magic and I'll just leave it at that.