When conditions are right — temps just below freezing, still air, and sunshine — leaves resting on fresh snow slowly sink. Each dark leaf acts as a tiny solar heat collector that warms the snow crystals touching its underside just enough to melt them. Down goes the leaf a fraction of an inch. The melted crystals help melt more snow below them as the leaf slowly drops. The holes are the exact shape of each leaf including the stem. Above are 2 shots of the same leaf: a top view and one from the side so you can see that the leaf is about 2″ below the snow’s surface. Note how the stem slices through the snow as it sinks; you can just barely see it. Click the image to see a larger version. A desktop pattern (1920 x 1200 pixels) of the top view in very crisp focus is also available.
