Frost-withered Knotweed

After yesterday morning's definite killing frost, my objective during this morning's much warmer walk—no winter gear necessary—was to assess the damage that the ice crystals had wrought. The ferns in yesterday's post were fine, for they have the ability, the evergreen ability, to ensure that those shards of frozen water are sequestered in places in each cell in which the crystals will do no significant damage, like piercing cell membranes. Such plants can handle repeated frosty insults just fine and remain green all winter. But plenty of the members of the local flora are not so skilled at handling ice, and within a day of a serious frost, their foliage is withered and dead, all the cells punctured. Of course, this is no big deal for trees, such as this sassafras, that were going to shed their leaves soon anyway. It was close to time. The 23 degree temperature just made the decision a bit earlier than would have been necessary.