Hoarfrost crystals sparkle on the edges of this flower’s petals in Carletta Stokes’ garden. Anza Valley Outlook/Courtesy photo
Winter in the Anza Valley is well underway, with chilly temperatures, rain, wind, snow and frost.Frost, also called white or hoarfrost, can be beautiful yet damaging. This phenomenon occurs when air temperatures dip below 32 degrees and ice crystals form on plant leaves. While pretty and crisp, frost can injure and sometimes kill tender plants. The below-freezing temperatures that create frost generally kill all but the most cold-tolerant plants.Local resident Carletta Stokes’ garden was covered in frost recently and she took some photos of the event before the sun melted it away. Luckily, her outside plants were cold-tolerant and survived the ordeal.Diane Sieker can be reached by email at dsieker@reedermedia.com. [caption id="attachment_57854" align="aligncenter
