Tundra is derived from a Russian word that means "land of no trees". It is too cold for plant life to grow more than a few inches in this harsh environment. The tiny plants that thrive at this high altitude  have special features in place to help them survive frost, strong winds, and intense sunlight. Winter temperatures rarely exceed 20 degrees F; summer temperatures rarely exceed 65 degrees F. Blizzards can occur any day of the year. The land is so fragile, that walking on it could destroy plant life for hundreds of years. Knowing this and experiencing just a few of these weather conditions can make me appreciate the hardiness of these tiny flowers.  However, like in my own garden, there are certain varieties seen for each season of the year.  Here are a few that I was privileged to see!

The red flower is King’s Crown, smells like a rose and the entire plant turns a deep red in the autumn. The yellow flower is Alpine Avens. Its leaves contain an antifreeze like pigment that changes sunlight to heat and acts as a sunscreen at the same time. In the autumn, it’s a deep red.

Alpine Avens and Bistort (white), which can also be called "dirty socks" because of the smell…

Chiming Bells and Alpine Sunflower (Old Man of the Mountain)…

Perry Clover…

Rose Crown (pink)…in the autumn the leaves turn a bright red and orange. The daisy (purple) gets its name from the Anglo-Saxon (whom we’re learning about in history) for "day’s eye" because they open at sunrise and close at sunset.

Snowball Saxifrage…saxifrage means "rock breaker", referring to the flower’s habit of growing between rock crevices. As a result, ancient medicinal practice assumed it would also break kidney stones.