TheBanyanTree: Fern Frost

[Tom Smith]

Went for a walk in the neighborhood at sunrise.  There had been
an overnight rain and the temperature was in the low 30s. 
happened to notice what I thought at first was textured paint
on a parked car.  Became fascinated with the graceful floral-
like patterns.  Took the pocket-size camera I always carry on
walks and started taking pictures.  The patterns were all over
the car, including the windows.  Had to be frost.. but this was
like a garden..  Light through the other windows provided
backlight to bring out the patterns, and the angle of the
window picked up sky colors.

I still don't understand how these patterns are possible.  How
could just water and glass and gravity produce this fern
garden?  I can sort of wrap my mind around the possibility of
beautiful symmetrical snowflake crystal arrays, but this was
like a DRAWING.  All I can say is Mother Nature is quite an
artist.

Image at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9482738@N07/5487696082/

"On no account make a distinction between the absolute and the
sentient world."  -Huang Po