Tendrils of blowing snow along frozen Dead River in February in Marquette County, Michigan, USA

Quaking Aspen, Populus tremuloides, with tattoos along beginning of Wheeler Peak Summit Trail in Great Basin National Park, Nevada, USA

Dr. Diana Wehrell-Grabowski shares information about a literature reference recommended for STEM education "Nature Got There First."

Inspiring patterns found in nature. © Dawn Clarkson

Rock, probably a skarn showing metamorphic acitivity, in the high country between Melakwa Lake and Melakwa Pass, Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington State, USA, Rock_Patterns-4

Closeup of spectacular ice formations of Eben Ice Caves, Rock River Canyon Wilderness, Hiawatha National Forest, Michigan, USA

Ripples catching sunlight on the surface of Mitchell Creek, Clay Cliffs Nature Area in Big Rapids, Michigan, USA

Frost crystals growing on a window pane after a frigid night, Central Michigan, USA

Closeup of spectacular ice formations of Eben Ice Caves, Rock River Canyon Wilderness, Hiawatha National Forest, Michigan, USA

Saguaro

Rock patterns ade by intrusions at Lottie Point beach area in Deception Pass State Park, Fidalgo Island, Washington State, USA

[Iris siberica]

Ice patterns along Hestfjörður fjord, connected to Ísafjarðardjúp fjord, is a dramatic landscape in winter in the Westfjords region of Iceland

Cirrus cloud over Navajo Sandstone shaped like cauliflower, cracked into polygons, at White Pocket, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, Arizona, USA

One of the images for my Photography class final project - Patterns in Nature. I looked at different types of patterns, like migration, foot traffic, erosion, etc.

This image is available for commercial license:

Stock photography by Melany Sarafis at Alamy

Early light on Pinyon Pine on Navajo Sandstone shaped like cauliflower, cracked into polygons, at White Pocket, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, Arizona, USA

Columnar basalt formations along Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach in Iceland

Snow falling on Western Redcedar trees on the Olympic Peninsula, Washington State, USA

Honeycomb Tube Worm, Phragmatopoma californica, colony and Surfgrass, Phyllospadix spp., exposed at low tide at Natural Bridges State Beach, Santa Cruz, California, USA

Ripples catching sunlight on the surface of Mitchell Creek, Clay Cliffs Nature Area in Big Rapids, Michigan, USA

Wind rippling the surface of Trap Lake along the Pacific Crest Trail, Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington State, USA

Trees reflecting on waves on the surface of a lake in central Michigan, USA

Saguaro

Also see

vimeo.com/30829129

Weathered Pine Stump

Sea urchin test (shell) at Tongue Point in Salt Creek Recreation Area along the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Olympic Peninsula, Washington State, USA

Closeup of spectacular ice formations of Eben Ice Caves, Rock River Canyon Wilderness, Hiawatha National Forest, Michigan, USA

Columnar basalt formations along Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach in Iceland {No model releases; available for editorial licensing only]

Wind rippling the surface of Snow Lake along Snow Lake Trail leading into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Mt. Baker–Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington State, USA

[Iris sibirica] Also known as Fleur-de-Lis

Wind rippling the surface of Snow Lake along Snow Lake Trail leading into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Mt. Baker–Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington State, USA

Who ever said thistles are ugly? This is another one of amazing shape, texture, and color.

Northern Maidenhair Fern, Adiantum pedatum, in Canadian Lakes in central Michigan, USA