Snowflakes - Snowflake buttons

According to the World Book Encyclopedia: Snow always appears as tiny SIX-sided crystals, and that no two are alike. Some crystals are flat; at other times they form long needles. Snow crystals may cling together to form snow pellets over an inch thick.

Some snowflakes are like stars, but they have to be SIX-pointed stars because snow crystals are basically hexagonal. Compton's Pictured Encyclopedia states: "Although they vary greatly in details, snow crystals all belong to the hexagonal system; that is they all have SIX sides or angles". Actually, the patterns that we call snow flakes are more accurately termed snow crystals.

The tiny crystal surfaces of fresh snow reflect light and make the snow appear white. However, microscopic plants may change the color of the snow after it has fallen. Greenland and other places in the Arctic sometimes have red or green snow on the ground. In Just Buttons ( 63/68) it mentions that red, green, and even black snow has been known to fall - a phenomenon caused by fungi or dust particles around which snowflakes have formed; that snow may be red or green because of air pollution.

While the first snowflake drawing was made as early as 1555 by Archbishop Glaus Maghus of Uppsala, Sweden. The real pioneer in the field was Wilson A. Bentley of Jerico, Vermont. In a period of fifty years, he made over 6000 plates of snow and ice crystal formations.

The snowflake buttons(above)are available under mixed materials @ Pegs Buttons