Conversely, dry fall weather means little moisture in the plant stalks. Under such conditions, frost flowers tend to take shape only at the base of the stem in chubby little petal cups. Unusually mild winters, like the El Nino winter of 1997, may cause frost flowers to form as late as February. Find a safe place to park and ask for landowner permission before taking a closer look. Remember to look in your own garden or in that patch of weeds behind the garage early on frosty fall mornings.
Frost flowers can bloom in the most delightfully unpredictable places.
When I was a little girl, I found my first frost flowers in an abandoned woodlot. On frosty Ozark mornings, I choose to believe the fairies are still at work. Frost flowers occur in many parts of the world and all across the state of Missouri. However, only a few species of plants produce frost flowers Frost flowers have a brief life span so early morning is the best time to find them. The first rays of the sun soften their delicate edges and, well before noon, they will be completely melted.