Flecks of color under a cold summer wind

Sofia Jain



Pedicularis hirsuta (Hairy loosewart),
 Diapensia lapponica (Diapensia), Vaccinium uliglinosum (Bilberry)

Despite the persistent cold, the hillside is alive with colour. We are up to 21 species of interest in flower. It's almost funny, how excited I get when we find a new flower. When Orla calls out an "Oh look at this" at a patch of colour that caught her eye, I run over to lie in the warm moss, squirming a little with excitement, to inspect what miraculous little bundle of beauty has sprouted into being. Don't be fooled by their cuteness, they are hardy little things. The loosewarts are even partially parasitic of the surrounding plants.
We are finding that a lot of the plants we thought were one thing really turn out to be something else. It's so much easier to identify and notice them once they have reproduction on their mind.



Eutrema edwardsii (Edward's eutrema)

I've received word from Zoe. She seems to be making good progress in Lake Hazen. She has found many more species of plants we are interested in. She's also seen muskox, lemmings, arctic foxes, and arctic hares, and wolf walked right through her camp! She says she has done some amazing hikes around the mountains and glaciers. Too bad photos can't be sent through these InReach devices.



Oxytropis arctopia (in the pea family)



Pedicularis flammea (Red-tipped loosewart)





Papaver (Poppy)



Dryas integrifolia (Mountain avens)