While drivers and power crews are battling icy roads and freezing rain, Mercer Slough Park was iced with beautiful crystals after freezing rain fell Thursday.

The weight of the ice pulled branches closer to the ground, but only broke a couple on the path. Ice atop the snow cracked beneath my feet, which then sunk into a couple inches of snow.

Song birds hopped around the ground looking for food. Green and yellow grass stuck out from white snow. The paths, which are more often covered in mud than not, were covered in icy snow, but they weren’t too slick for a walk.

These photos were taken at the park during an afternoon walk.

Ice crested snow on twigs and branches at Mercer Slough Park. Despite forecasts, freezing rain did not turn to melting rain Thursday. CELESTE GRACEY, Reporter Newspapers

Looking across a blueberry field outside Mercer Slough Park, this photo looks up to a West Bellevue neighborhood. CELESTE GRACEY, Reporter Newspapers

Ice encases snow atop of dried flowers at Mercer Slough. CELESTE GRACEY, Reporter Newspapers