The Thornton Burgess Society
appreciates the support of the
Massachusetts Cultural Council

  January, 2013

Around the Pond By Mary Beers, Education Director

Since we have been lacking of snow lately, I thought I'd start 2013 with an article about snow. Snow flakes are formed in clouds of water vapor tens of thousands of feet up in the atmosphere. Snowflakes are made up of water crystals, and as scientists have told us - no 2 snow flakes are alike. Each tiny ice crystal is made up of one quintillion water molecules. I never knew that was even a number, but it is! A quintillion is 100 million trillion. (Hopefully, we do not see that number as our national debt any time soon) Each of the water molecules is triangular in shape and joins with other molecules around a speck of dust to form a snowflake shape. A snowflake is always some symmetric pattern of a six-sided, pointed star. 

You can catch snowflakes onto dark construction paper or dark fabric. First choose the dark material, then place it in the freezer. When it is snowing, grab a magnifier, take out the dark material, place it on a sturdy backing for support, then go outside and catch a few flakes. You will have to look at the flakes outside so they do not melt. You can check out the snow crystal classification system developed in 1951 by the International Commission on Snow and Ice to see which kind of flakes you found.

Snow is a friend to wildlife and plants. It is a bit confusing to think about but cold snow is a good insulation for meadow voles, mice, roots and tender shoots.  When there is a heavy snowfall, bushes are brought low under the weight. This is when many Briar Patch creatures get busy stripping bark and buds. Meadow voles create elaborate tunnels under the snow. When the snow starts to melt, these tunnels collapse, and we can see the maize of tunnels even across our own yards. 

Check out "Peter's First Snow" and "Mrs. Grouse Goes to Bed", the last two chapters in Thornton Burgess' book Mother West Wind's Neighbors for a great read about snow. Peter discovers the wonders of playing in the snow, and Mrs. Grouse creates a cozy bed in a strange location. Look for Mr. Burgess's book, The Dear Old Briar Patch and find the story called "The Unsuspected Neighbor." In the story Peter and Mrs. Peter find someone hibernating in an old woodchuck burrow during a snowstorm.

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Thornton W. Burgess Society
6 Discovery Hill Road
East Sandwich, MA 02537
508-888-6870